Treatment of earlobe keloids by extralesional excision combined with high dose Brachytherapy

Abstract

Introduction: Radiotherapy as an accessary therapy to surgical resection has revealedvariable rates of recurrence giving earlobe keloids. The rationale behind study was determine outcomes of earlobe keloid surgical excision followed byhigh-dose-rate brachytherapy.Methods: Retrospective chart of 32 patients with 32 earlobe keloids treated withsurgical excision followed by high-dose-rate brachytherapy, betweenJanuary 2017 to May 2018 were enrolled. Demographic database, Fitzpatrick skin type, laterality, lesion size, and follow-upvisits information. Outcomes were measured in terms of keloid recurrencerates, complications and after 24 months of follow-up.Results: Twenty-five patients (78%) were femalesandthe remaining seven (22%) were males. This concludes that females were more prone for keloid which may be secondary to history of ear piercing. Four patients (12.41%) experienced keloid recurrence, three at 6 months (9.3%), and one at 12 months (3.1%).Conclusion: Surgical excision followed by high-dose-rate brachytherapy is secure andeffective to treat earlobe keloids and can be considered a first linecombined treatment.