Abstract
Keloids and hypertrophic scars often present difficulties in treatment. Patients have cosmetic and psychological problems from the shape, pain and itching, so keloids are referred to as a ‘psycological malignant tumor’. We herein present a case of an auricular keloid of 25 mm in diameter which developed from a pierce hole. The tumor was treated with surgical excision, postoperative irradiation (16Gy/4fr) and oral administration of tranilast. At ten months after the treatment, no recurrence of the keloid has been seen. Excision should be carefully performed to give perfect obliteration followed by precise suture closure. Postoperative irradiation is effective for prevention of recurrence. Optimal total doses and fractions have been discussed in many papers, and we should treat on the basis of the fact that auricular keloids tend to relapse more than ear lobe keloids. Many treatments for keloids and hypertrophic scars have been reported, but the combination of the above therapeutic approaches is necessary to treat keloids and hypertrophic scars successfully and obtain a better therapeutic result. It is important to keep in mind that keloids tend to recur and need long term follow up.
