title: Postoperative carbon ion radiotherapy for keloids: a preliminary report of 16 cases and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiotherapy for the management of keloids was first introduced in 1906, yet 107 years later optimal protocol has not yet been established. Most studies have been conducted using x-ray, β-ray, or γ-ray. However, for high linear energy transfer radiation, clinical data are scarce. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of postoperative carbon ion radiotherapy for keloids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case records of 16 patients with 20 keloids, who were given postoperative carbon ion radiotherapy with 16GyE/8 fractions in the therapy terminal at the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou at the Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China, were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a mean follow-up period of 29.7 months (range 24.3-35.3 months), overall survival and 95% success rates were achieved. No grade 3 or higher toxicity and complication occurred, and none of the 16 patients presented with local or systemic malignancy during the follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Here, the first evidence of postoperative carbon ion radiotherapy for keloids is provided. Surgical excision and immediate postoperative carbon ion radiotherapy is well tolerated and should be considered as a potential curative treatment modality of keloids in certain cases.
authors: Cancer Hospital/Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; and Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
authors: Yingtai
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Dong
authors: Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
authors: Xiaohu
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
authors: Jijun
authors: J
authors: Xue
authors: Department of Radiology, Institute of Modern Physics, Lanzhou, China.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
authors: Liying
authors: L
authors: Gao
authors: Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
authors: Qiuning
authors: Q
authors: Zhang
authors: Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, China; email: chief.chenxuezhong@163.com.
authors: Xuezhong
authors: X
authors: Chen