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Cryotreatment of keloids: a single Italian institution experience

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European Journal of Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Keloids are pathologic scars that can cause significant aesthetic disfiguration and symptoms. There are no specific causing factors, and a common consensus on their management has not been reached. This study provides an evaluation of the efficacy of cryotherapy and cryosurgery in their treatment.

Methods

Patients with keloids who were hospitalized at the Plastic Surgery Unit, University of Turin, were submitted to cryotreatment. A significant sample of 153 patients with 192 lesions, treated between 2009 and 2013, was considered for the purpose of this study. The protocols chosen were outpatient cryotherapy sessions and cryosurgery (surgical shaving combined with cryotherapy). Reductions of the scar volume and thickness, together with the reduction of clinical symptoms, were assessed.

Results

On average, the follow-up was 12–72 months. In 83 % of patients who received outpatient cryotherapy, there was a diminishment of 75–82 % in the size of the lesions, with an average of 5–10 applications needed. In 94 % of those submitted to cryosurgery, one session was enough to achieve an almost complete smoothing (reduction in lesions sizes higher than 80 %). However, 13 % of the patients submitted to cryosurgery also needed sessions of outpatient cryotherapy to achieve effective results. For both approaches, the main adverse effects included dyschromia with healthy skin and dystrophic scars. No recurrence was observed.

Conclusions

Our experience confirms the cryotreatment among first-line monotherapies against keloids, in terms of therapeutic effectiveness, safeness, costs, and ease of application. A careful selection of the protocol treatment on the base of the lesion characteristics (age and the morphology) and a good compliance of patients are necessary to reach optimal results.

Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 23, 10100, Turin, Italy

    Marco Fraccalvieri, Paolo Bogetti, Marco Salomone, Claudia Di Santo, Erind Ruka & Stefano Bruschi

Authors
  1. Marco Fraccalvieri
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  2. Paolo Bogetti
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  3. Marco Salomone
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  4. Claudia Di Santo
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  5. Erind Ruka
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  6. Stefano Bruschi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marco Fraccalvieri.

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Conflict of interest

Marco Fraccalvieri, Paolo Bogetti, Marco Salomone, Claudia Di Santo, Erind Ruka, and Stefano Bruschi declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Standards

This study protocol has been approved by the local ethics committee and is conformed to the ethical guidelines of the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its subsequent amendments.

Patient consent

Each patient signed a written informed consent prior to their inclusion in the study, and alternative treatments were explained before the procedure. Addtional consent was obtained for the use of their images.

Funding

None.

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Fraccalvieri, M., Bogetti, P., Salomone, M. et al. Cryotreatment of keloids: a single Italian institution experience. Eur J Plast Surg 39, 201–206 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-015-1170-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-015-1170-6

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