Adjuvant Radiotherapy after Surgical Excision in Keloids.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Radiation Oncology
• Fibroproliferative Diseases

Background:

• Keloids are benign fibroproliferative tumors characterized by high recurrence rates after surgical excision.
• These growths cause significant functional impairment, disfigurement, pruritus, and reduced quality of life.
• Current therapeutic options often require adjuvant treatments to improve outcomes and prevent recurrence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the optimal radiotherapy regimen for keloid management.
• To review recent advancements and reports on using radiotherapy as an adjuvant therapy for keloids.
• To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various radiotherapy approaches.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature on keloid treatment with radiotherapy.
• Analysis of different radiotherapy fractionation schedules and their efficacy.
• Evaluation of treatment outcomes, including local control rates and side effect profiles.

Main Results:

• Adjuvant radiotherapy following surgical keloid excision demonstrates excellent local tumor control.
• The side effect profile associated with adjuvant radiotherapy is generally tolerable.
• Hypofractionated radiotherapy regimens achieving a biologically effective dose (BED) greater than 28 Gy (with an α/β value of 10) show promising results.

Conclusions:

• Adjuvant radiotherapy is a highly effective strategy for improving local control after surgical keloid excision.
• Hypofractionated radiotherapy regimens are recommended based on their biological rationale and clinical outcomes.
• Further research may clarify the optimal parameters for radiotherapy in keloid management.