RADIOTHERAPY TREATMENT OF KELOIDS IN IBADAN

The management of keloids has posed a difficult challenge to the patient, surgeon and radiation oncologist due to its high recurrence rate following treatment. Post-operative radiotherapy has been used to improve outcome of treatment by reducing recurrence. However, this is difficult in Africa where there are few Radiotherapy machines and some of those available are not the standard for the treatment for superficial tumours and lesions like keloids.

To assess the pattern of presentation, treatment and outcomes in patients with keloids.

A retrospective cross-sectional study.

University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Records of all patients treated for keloids over a 25-year period were retrieved and their demographics, site and number of keloids, radiation treatment and outcome. The data obtained were analysed using the SPSS version 22.

In all, 172 cases were seen within the period with a male preponderance (57%), i.e. male: female ratio of 1.3:1. The age range was 12 - 73 years with a mean of 28.7 ±14.53 years with 42.4% of the patients in the 20- 29 years bracket. Also, 69% of patients had a single keloid and the ears (35%) were the commonest sites in 35% of cases, the face (28.6%), the trunk (18.6%) and the neck (8.7%).All the patients had surgical excision followed by radiation therapy within 72 hours of surgery. They all received 12Gy in 2 fractions over 2 weeks except one that had 25Gy in 10 alternate daily fractions due to the large size of the tumour. There was no documented complication during and following treatment. The recurrence rate was 14.53%.

Immediate postoperative radiotherapy of keloids is safe with good outcome and a low recurrence rate.