A Comparative Study on Recurrence of Earlobe Keloids after Postoperative Adjuvant Therapy

Kim, Hee Joo; Jung, Sung Kyu; Lee, Kyung Goo; Kim, Jae Hwan; Kim, Il Hwan

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Earlobe keloids are a cosmetically and symptomatically bothersome clinical problem with frequent recurrence despite various treatments including surgical excision and intralesional injection of corticosteroids.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the results and recurrence of earlobe keloids after various postexcisional adjuvant therapies and to identify the most effective postoperation adjuvant therapy.
METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated 36 patients with earlobe keloids (n=71) who underwent core excision and a suprakeloidal flap using photographs. One group did not have adjuvant therapy, one group was treated with adjuvant triamcinolone intralesional injection (TRA/ILI), and another group was treated with postoperative irradiation.
RESULTS
Among treated 71 keloids, 18 lesions (25.4%) recurred; 42.9% (12/28) of the operation-only group and 19.4% (6/31) of TRA/ILI group showed recurrence. The adjuvant radiation therapy group had no recurrence. The difference in recurrence rate was statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
Postexcisional adjuvant therapy was more effective than excision monotherapy for keloid treatment, and radiation therapy had more sustained effects than that of TRA/ILI.