BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy has been used historically to treat a wide variety of dermatologie conditions, including nonmelanoma skin cancers, lymphomas, and inflammatory skin conditions. Recently, radiotherapy has been used increasingly as a valuable tool in the postsurgical treatment of large or recalcitrant keloids. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review was to explore the use of radiation therapy as an adjuvant to surgically excised keloids. DESIGN: A PubMed search of all published English literature regarding the applications of radiotherapy for the treatment of keloids was performed using a combination of keywords including radiation, radiotherapy, brachytherapy, electron beam, superficial radiation, orthovoltage radiation, and keloid. The results were analyzed and collated. RESULTS: A comprehensive review of radiotherapy for the adjuvant treatment of keloids was outlined. CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy appears useful as an adjuvant therapy to surgically excised keloids. Dermatologists should be well versed in radiotherapy to provide optimal care for patients with recalcitrant keloids.
Keywords: Radiotherapy; brachytherapy; electron beam; keloid; orthovoltage radiation; superficial radiation.