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A Single Center Study of Pediatric Keloid Disease: Assessment of Surgical Outcomes
Catherine Kennedy BHSc
Ayesha Qureshi MD
Jenny Barker MD PhD
Nationwide Children's Hospital
2024-01-14
Presenter: Catherine Kennedy
Affidavit:
Yes, I certify that the material proposed for presentation in this abstract has not been published in any scientific journal or previously presented at a major meeting. The submitted work represents the original work by the student (Catherine Kennedy)
Director Name: Jenny Barker
Author Category: Medical Student
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: General Reconstruction
INTRODUCTION
Keloids are locally destructive tumors of scar tissue that exhibit neoplastic-like properties. They can be surgically excised or managed with adjunct therapies such as steroid injections or radiation. The aim of this study is to describe the burden of keloid disease at a tertiary pediatric hospital.
METHODS:
We performed a retrospective chart review of all children younger than 19 managed for keloid disease between 2011-2023.
RESULTS:
160 patients, 89 female (55.6%) and 71 male (44.4%) with 276 keloids were managed at our institution. Mean age at initial visit was 13.5 ± 4 years (range 2 – 19 years). The ear was most frequently affected (n=237, 85.9%) and piercing was the most frequent etiology (n=124, 77.5%). There was a positive family history in 19 (11.9%) patients. Of the 202 surgical excisions, 55 had surgical excision alone (27.2%) and the remaining 147 patients (72.8%) had combinations of surgical excision and corticosteroid injection. After treatment, 20 (12.5%) patients did not return for follow-up after surgical excision. Outcomes were evaluated in the remaining 140 patients. Of these, 52 (37.1%) experienced recurrence while 88 (62.9%) did not. Ear keloids recurred more (35.9%) than keloids on the face, neck, and scalp (22.2%) or in the presence of multiple keloids (33.3%); these differences were significant (P<.001). Differences in keloid recurrence with treatment of surgical excision ± varying corticosteroid injections were significant (P<.001).
CONCLUSIONS:
Keloids can be managed with surgical excision alone or with adjuvant therapy. However, recurrence remains high, and an ideal treatment has not been defined.
