Efficacy and Safety of Excision Combination Therapies for Earlobe Keloids: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background

Different combinations of excision and adjuvant therapies have been applied to improve outcomes for earlobe keloids, though evidence in this field is still lacking.

Objectives

This study sought to systematically investigate efficacy and safety of these treatments.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library to find all relevant studies. Meta-analysis of recurrence rates (RRs) and adverse event rates with 95% confidence intervals, and individual participants data (IPD) were calculated for each intervention when possible. Otherwise, narrative syntheses were performed.

Results

A total of 85 articles, covering 23 treatments for earlobe keloids, were included, indicating a preference for multiple combination therapy. The estimated RRs for 6 interventions (i.e., excision monotherapy, combinations of excision with imiquimod, pressure therapy, radiotherapy, steroids, and steroids with pressure therapy) appeared to be comparable. Electron radiotherapy was found to have potential advantages over X-ray treatment, contributing to the observed heterogeneity. Further meta-analysis using IPD revealed that both combination therapies of excision plus steroid therapy (p=0.003) and excision plus radiotherapy (p=0.003) yielded better recurrence-free survival compared to excision alone. The median recurrence-free interval for combination therapy was 10 months. Adverse event rates were similar among different intervention groups.

Conclusions

This study suggests that combining excision with radiotherapy or perioperative steroid therapy has the potential to improve prognosis of earlobe keloids without increasing the risk of adverse events. Overall evaluation of patients’ conditions and further studies with sufficient follow-up are warranted for clinical practice.

Level of Evidence IV

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