Objective
Keloid management are varied from conservative treatments to surgery excision. Recent studies have shown that combine post-operative radiotherapy can significantly reduce the recurrence rate compare to monotherapy of surgery. But the time interval between surgery and radiation is lack of data form the previous guideline or treatment protocol. We intended to know whether delay radiotherapy and immediate radiotherapy (within 24 hours of surgery) will have difference concerning recurrence rate and post treatment complications.

Material and Methods
Total 66 keloid patients of a single surgeon from 2019 to 2020 received keloid removal surgery and post-operative radiotherapy. Their charts were retrospectively reviewed. We then divided the patient into two groups, immediate radiotherapy (within 24 hours of post operation) or delay radiotherapy. The location, number and pretreatment characteristic of keloid, intraoperative details, post operative complications and follow up result were collected and reviewed. The radiation dosage was determined by the size and severity of keloid. Statistically calculation was conducted by SPSS 22.

Results
Total 66 keloid patients received post-operative radiotherapy, 4 cases occur recurrent, median follow up time is 151 days. 33 patients received immediate radiation, 2 (6%) patients occur recurrent; other 33 patients received delay radiation, 2 (6%) patients occur recurrent(p=0.693). Only 1 case have complication as stitch abscess in delay group(p=0.314).

Conclusions
Recurrent rates in two groups has no statistically difference, nor is the complication rates. Suggesting delay radiotherapy for post-operative keloid patient is as effective as immediate radiotherapy.

Download