[Radiotherapy of keloids. Patterns of care study -- results].
BACKGROUND
Keloids are benign diseases of the skin. Because of the high rate of relapses after operation often postoperative irradiation is used. Treatment modalities must be collected by Patterns of Care Studies before therapy advice may be given from DEGRO.


METHODS
Dates of investigations with questionnaire on mail of 250 radiotherapy institutions in Germany in 1997/2000 were collected to know therapy modalities, results and side effects. Keloids were irradiated in 101 institutions. During a time up to 35 years 1672 patients were irradiated, 880 patients had a follow-up.


RESULTS
Mostly radiotherapy was applied soon postoperatively with kilovoltage radiotherapy or electrons 4-12 MeV fractionated 3-5 times a week and single doses of 2-3 Gy up to total doses of 10-20 Gy. 101 relapses were seen, the frequency of 11.4% is in the range of literature. Relapses were seen in the interval of some weeks up to 2 years after therapy. Side effects of irradiation were low, no malignant transformation was reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative radiotherapy for keloids is applied in Germany mostly under equal conditions. This therapy offers effective relapse prophylaxis with nearly no side effects. A follow-up for 2 years is necessary to see outcome and relapses of irradiation.
Kutzner
Joachim
J
Klinik und Poliklinik für Radiologie der Universitätskliniken Mainz, Germany. kutzner@radiologie.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Schneider
Lida
L
Seegenschmiedt
Michael Heinrich
MH
D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D004583:Electrons; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007627:Keloid / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012008:Recurrence