[Surgical treatment of relapsing keloid of the pinna by fillet flap]. / Tratamiento quirúrgico del queloide recidivante de pabellón auricular mediante <>.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Keloid scars occur when, compared to normal healing, there is excessive formation of collagen after skin wounds or burns. Different treatments have been tried, though no particular one has been shown to be superior. The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of the surgical technique originally described as keloid fillet flap in the management of relapsing keloids of the pinna. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 10 patients (8 men, 9 white and 1 black) with a keloid on the retroauricular region or earlobe of more than 1 year duration, who had undergone previous treatment (surgery and topical or injected corticosteroids) without a good outcome or with relapse, and who had not received any treatment in the previous 6 months. RESULTS: Five patients were treated with a fillet flap procedure only, while the other 5, in addition to the procedure, also applied 5% imiquimod cream 5 times a week for 1 to 3 months. In 4 patients, no relapse was observed after the intervention. Two patients had partial flap necrosis, with subsequent partial relapse in one of these. Eighty percent reported the outcome of the procedure as good or excellent. CONCLUSION: We achieved a response rate of 40% in the treatment of relapsing keloid of the pinna by a fillet flap procedure. This may be an alternative within the therapeutic arsenal for the treatment of relapsing keloid of the pinna, given that it does not require extensive resources and the skills needed to perform the procedure can be quickly acquired.

Tratamiento quirúrgico del queloide recidivante de pabellón auricular mediante «colgajo en filete» / Surgical treatment of relapsing keloid of the pinna by fillet flap

Introducción y objetivos: El queloide se caracteriza por la formación excesiva de colágeno respecto a la cicatrización normal y puede aparecer de forma secundaria tras una herida o quemadura cutánea. Para su corrección se han ensayado diversos tratamientos, sin que ninguno haya demostrado su superioridad. El objetivo de este estudio es valorar la utilidad de la técnica quirúrgica originalmente descrita como keloid fillet flap (colgajo «en filete») para el tratamiento de queloides auriculares recidivantes. Material y métodos: Se seleccionaron diez pacientes (ocho varones, nueve de raza blanca, uno de raza negra) con queloide retroauricular o de lóbulo recidivante de más de un año de evolución, que habían recibido tratamiento previo (cirugía y corticoides tópicos o en infiltración) sin resultado o con recidiva, y que no habían recibido ningún tipo de tratamiento en los últimos seis meses. Resultados: Cinco pacientes fueron tratados quirúrgicamente solo con colgajo «en filete» y otros cinco con colgajo e imiquimod crema al 5% cinco veces por semana durante uno a tres meses. En cuatro pacientes no se apreció recidiva tras la intervención. Dos pacientes presentaron necrosis parcial del colgajo, uno de los cuales desarrolló recidiva parcial de la lesión. El 80% calificó el resultado de la intervención como bueno o excelente. Conclusiones: Hemos conseguido un 40% de respuesta en el tratamiento del queloide auricular recidivante mediante la realización de colgajo «en filete». Este puede representar una alternativa dentro del arsenal terapéutico disponible para el tratamiento del queloide auricular recidivante, dado que no necesita de grandes medios y puede realizarse después de un entrenamiento mínimo (AU)

Background and objectives: Keloid scars occur when, compared to normal healing, there is excessive formation of collagen after skin wounds or burns. Different treatments have been tried, though no particular one has been shown to be superior. The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of the surgical technique originally described as keloid fillet flap in the management of relapsing keloids of the pinna. Material and methods: The study included 10 patients (8 men, 9 white and 1 black) with a keloid on the retroauricular region or earlobe of more than 1 year duration, who had undergone previous treatment (surgery and topical or injected corticosteroids) without a good outcome or with relapse, and who had not received any treatment in the previous 6 months. Results: Five patients were treated with a fillet flap procedure only, while the other 5, in addition to the procedure, also applied 5% imiquimod cream 5 times a week for 1 to 3 months. In 4 patients, no relapse was observed after the intervention. Two patients had partial flap necrosis, with subsequent partial relapse in one of these. Eighty percent reported the outcome of the procedure as good or excellent. Conclusion: We achieved a response rate of 40% in the treatment of relapsing keloid of the pinna by a fillet flap procedure. This may be an alternative within the therapeutic arsenal for the treatment of relapsing keloid of the pinna, given that it does not require extensive resources and the skills needed to perform the procedure can be quickly acquired (AU)

Paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with Castleman's disease: usefulness of the laboratory of autoimmunity in the diagnosis of this disease.

We report on a case of paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with Castleman's disease. Clinical pathologic features were not conclusive. Diagnosis was established thanks to the detection of seric autoantibodies directed against intercellular substance by indirect immunofluorescence on monkey esophagus. The positive result of this test prompted us to reevaluate the patient and to detect the occult neoplasia. The demonstration of autoantibodies against plakins is the key marker of this disease but depends on tests that may not be readily available in many places like immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, or indirect immunofluorescence over rat bladder. In this setting, tests like indirect immunofluorescence over monkey esophagus, although unspecific, may aid in reaching the appropriate diagnosis. This case illustrates the importance of the laboratory of autoimmunity in the diagnosis of this type of pemphigus.