The treatment of 783 keloid scars by iridium 192 interstitial irradiation after surgical excision.

Purpose: the aim of this study is to confirm the effectiveness of irradiation associated with surgery in the treatment of keloids, to precise the factors favoring the recurrence of these keloids, and to evaluate the risk of recurrence, according to their initial distinctive features.

Methods And Materials: between 1977 and 1988, 544 patients, with a total of 855 keloids, were treated by interstitial radiotherapy immediately following total excision.

Results: recurrence rate is 21%, as against 50 to 80% for surgery alone, according to most authors.