title: Cryotherapy in the treatment of keloids.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite their benign nature, keloids may constitute a severe aesthetic and, in some cases, functional problem with important repercussions on patients' quality of life. There is no consensus on keloid treatment and no wholly satisfactory therapy has yet emerged.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of cryotherapy in the treatment of keloids.
  
  
  METHODS
  135 patients with 166 keloids received cryosurgical treatment between 1990 and 2004. Freeze times and number of sessions varied. Scar volume was measured before and after treatment. Median follow-up was 48.6 months (range 12.4-72.6 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 166 lesions treated, 79.5% responded very well with a volume reduction of the initial mass of greater than 80% after a median of 3 treatments (range: 1-9). A good result was obtained in 14.5% of lesions, while results were unsatisfactory in 6% of cases. The main adverse effects reported were atrophic depressed scars and residual hypopigmentation (75% of cases). No recurrences arose during the follow-up period (12-72 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To date, cryotherapy appears to be the most effective, safe, economic, and easy-to-perform monotherapy to treat keloid lesions and hypertrophic scars.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Dermatologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rusciani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paradisi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alfano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chiummariello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rusciani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017679:Cryotherapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007627:Keloid / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies