Cryosurgery in the Treatment of Earlobe Keloids: Report of Seven Cases

• Published in: Dermatologic surgery 2005-12, Vol.31 (12), p.1728-1731
• Main Authors: Fikrle, Tomas, Pizinger, Karel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Body Piercing - adverse effects; Child; Cryosurgery; Ear, External; Female; Humans; Keloid - etiology; Keloid - surgery; Male; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures - adverse effects
• ISSN: 1076-0512; 1524-4725
• DOI: 10.1097/00042728-200512000-00021

BACKGROUNDKeloids are benign cutaneous lesions that result from excessive collagen synthesis and deposition. Earlobe keloids in particular are seen as a complication of plastic surgery or piercing. Many different treatment modalities have been used, often with unsatisfactory results. METHODSWe have made a retrospective analysis of seven young patients (ages 9 to 22 years) with earlobe keloids. Scarring followed plastic surgery in six cases and piercing in one case. All patients were treated with cryosurgery as the monotherapy. The freeze time and the number of sessions varied depending on the clinical findings, the effect of the treatment, and the patientsʼ tolerance. Cryotherapy was started 6 to 24 months after keloid development. RESULTSScar volume was reduced in all cases. Complete flattening in five patients and a pronounced reduction to a maximum of 25% of the previous thickness in one other patient were achieved. One patient discontinued the therapy because of soreness after only partial improvement. The procedure was painful for all patients; no further side effects were noticed. No recurrence was observed within 1 to 4.5 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONWe present an excellent effect of cryosurgery as the monotherapy for the treatment of earlobe keloid scars of young patients.