The results obtained with cryosurgery in keloids

Abstract

Background and design: A variety of methods are used in keloid treatment whose results are not quite successful. Among them, cryosurgery which leaves less scars as compared to other surgical processes, is preferred as a method which provides rather good cosmetic results with minimal damage. We have planned this work for the purpose of observing the effectiveness of cryosurgery in the treatment of keloids. Materials and methods: Cryosurgery has been performed on a total of 32 patients, 29 with keloids and 3 with hypertrophic scars, who have applied to our clinic between the dates of December'96 and December'98. Liquid nitrogen which is applied by cotton-tipped applicators is used in the process. Results: A complete plus partial healing of 50-60% has been obtained in keloids apart from the ones related to acne vulgaris. Only a weak response has been observed in keloids related to acne vulgaris. A complete healing has been obtained in two out of three cases with hypertrophic scars (66,6%). Conclusion: if it is considered that in keloids not a single therapy has resulted in a high degree of success by itself, it may be suggested that cryosurgery is the preferred method of treatment because of the rarity of side-effects, particularly in keloids with small diameters.

Özet

Keloid tedavisinde sonuçlar çok da başarılı olmayan çeşitli metodlar kullanılmaktadır. Bunlar arasında cerrahi işlemlere göre daha az skar bırakan kriyoterapi minimal zararla oldukça iyi kozmetik sonuç alınabilen bir yöntem olarak tercih edilmektedir. 12.96-12.98 tarihleri arasında kliniğimize başvuran 13' ü kadın, 19' u erkek; 29' u keloidli 3' ü hipertrofik skarlı toplam 32 hastada kriyoterapi uyguladık. Tedavi bitiminde akne vulgarise bağlı keloidlerde sadece zayıf cevap alınabildi. 3 hipertrofik skarlı olgunun 2'si (%66,6) tam iyileşme gösterdi. Sonuçta keloidlerde hiçbir tedavi yönteminin tek başına çok iyi sonuç sağlamadığı düşünülürse; yan etkileriyle pek karşılaşılmayan kriyoterapinin özellikle küçük çaplı keloidlerde tercih edilebilecek bir tedavi yöntemi olduğu söylenebilir.