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Postoperative Electron‐Beam Irradiation‐Thirteen Years’ Experience and Future Prospects in our Hospital‐

Abstract

Purpose and Methods: Between 1988 and 2000, 378 cases of keloids were treated and the therapeutic outcomes were evaluated. For this study, 147 keloids in 129 patients were selected. Results: The overall recurrence rate was 32.7%. Analysis of the therapeutic outcomes showed that the recurrence rates in the sites with high stretch tension, such as the chest wall, and the scapular and suprapubic regions were statistically higher than in sites without high tension, such as the neck, earlobes and lower limbs (p = 0.0017). Discussion: The results suggested that keloid sites with a high risk of recurrence should be treated with escalated radiation doses. However in our experience, pigmentation increases when the radiation dose is increased. Additionally, pigmentation can be suppressed by the following methods: 1. reducing the one‐time dose of irradiation while keeping the total dose unchanged; 2. lengthening the irradiation interval. Therefore we made a new protocols and provide further insights into the treatment: Total 20 Gy (4 days): Anterior chest wall, Scapular region and Suprapuvic region; Total 10 Gy (2 days): Ear lobe; Total 15 Gy (3 days): Others.