ABSTRACT Background Keloids are benign fibroproliferative tumors that often recur after surgical excision. Combining surgery with postoperative radiotherapy has emerged as a potential treatment strategy, though optimal radiotherapy protocols remain debated. Objective This study aims to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single high‐dose brachytherapy session administered within 8 h after surgical excision in keloid‐prone patients in a retrospective setting. Methods A retrospective case series analysis was conducted on 32 patients who underwent surgical excision of keloids followed by a single 8 Gy Ir‐192 brachytherapy session within 8 h postoperatively. Treatment outcomes and adverse reactions were assessed over a 1‐year follow‐up period. Results Among the 32 patients, 25 were cured, 5 showed significant improvement, and 2 were ineffective, yielding a total effective rate of 93.75%. No severe radiation‐induced skin reactions (Grade III/IV) or abnormalities in thyroid or estrogen levels were observed. Conclusion In this small retrospective series, single‐dose 8 Gy brachytherapy administered within 8 h after surgical excision was associated with a high response rate and no severe adverse events. These findings suggest it may be a potentially useful outpatient treatment option for keloids, though further comparative studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety.
Tian et al. (Sun,) studied this question.