Do Histopathologic Parameters Affect the Rate of Recurrence in Auricular Keloid Patients?

The purpose of this study was to describe pathologic features in patients with auricular keloids and estimate its influence on the recurrence of the keloid disease. This study was done in 38 patients reaching the pathologic diagnosis of auricular keloids from March 2012 to February 2014. All patients were female. The average age was 24.06 ± 5.03 (18-47) and patients 21 to 23 showed the highest prevalence (38.2%). The gross morphology of auricular keloids based on our previously introduced classification was pedunculated type (25 patients, 65.8%) and sessile type (13 patients, 34.2%). A detailed case history was taken for every patient with special reference to clinical parameters, such as patient age, gross morphology, and various pathologic parameters, such as margin involvement, keloidal collagen area, perivascular lymphocytic infiltration in upper dermis, perivascular lymphocytic infiltration in keloid, presence of epidermal cyst, presence of foamy histiocytes, foreign body reaction, and superficial dermal involvement. Patient demographics and pathologic characteristics were evaluated as possible risk factors for keloid recurrence. Recurrence was defined as any elevation of the scar or extension beyond the original surgical field.Of these patients, 86.8% had successful treatment of their auricular keloids, whereas 13.2% had recurrences. Based on a current study, there was no significant correlation between the clinicopathologic findings and keloid recurrence.