Intralesional vs. contact cryosurgery in treatment of keloids: a clinical and immunohistochemical study.

BACKGROUND: Cryosurgery is a safe and effective treatment of keloids. Intralesional cryosurgery has been shown to bring about significant improvement in keloids. The histopathological and immunohistochemical changes in keloids following cryosurgery are not well-assessed. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with 66 keloids were treated with either the contact (cryoprobe) method or intralesional cryosurgery. Keloid specimens were obtained before treatment and after two sessions of treatment for evaluation of keloid pathology and immunohistochemical changes in expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tenascin C induced by both cryosurgical techniques. RESULTS: A better therapeutic response was detected after intralesional cryosurgery (excellent response [ER], 87%) than contact cryosurgery (ER, 60%; P < 0.05). The intralesional technique achieved higher rates of flattening after the first two sessions (ER in 61.3% and 22.9%, respectively; P < 0.05) and caused fewer side effects compared with the contact method. Both cryosurgical methods resulted in a significant decrease in VEGF and tenascin C expression in keloids. CONCLUSIONS: Intralesional cryosurgery is superior to contact cryosurgery in terms of efficacy and safety. Both techniques may have beneficial effects on keloids, at least partially, through the modulation of VEGF and tenascin C expression.

Intralesional cryosurgery and intralesional steroid injection: a good combination therapy for treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars.

Hypertrophic scars and keloids exhibit high recurrence rates following surgical excision. Intralesional cryosurgery (ILC) can achieve a higher degree of effectiveness than the surface cryotherapy. The aim of this study is to assess the clinical efficacy of ILC using Weshahy cryoneedles followed by IL steroid in a trial of getting rid of the fibrous mass by destruction, not by surgery to avoid being under tension of the new scar. This study included 22 patients. Evaluation of the volume reduction of the lesions was done after a single ILC session followed by IL steroid injections. There was a significant decrease in the volume of the lesions after 4 months (P < 0.01), with a volume reduction of 93.5%. By using ILC at the base of keloids or hypertrophic scars, we can change the old fibrous tissue into a recent scar or granulation tissue which will respond more successfully to IL steroid injection.