Background: Although many methods have been developed to treat ear keloids, new therapeutic options are still needed.
Objective: To determine the effects of topical mitomycin C (MC) on shave-removed wounds and fibroblasts of ear keloids.
Methods: Fourteen ear keloids in 12 patients were shaved, and MC (1 mg/mL) was applied to the resected bed for 5 minutes. The application was repeated 3 weeks later. All patients were assessed 2, 4, and 6 months after the procedure to evaluate the cosmetic results, recurrence, and postsurgical complications. An in vitro study to determine the effects of MC on fibroblasts of the excised keloids was conducted using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, the measurement of total cell counts, and immunoassay of DNA synthesis.
Results: Only one recurrence occurred (on the ear helix), and the patients were satisfied with the cosmetic outcomes. The results of the MTT assay, total cell counts, and DNA synthesis immunoassay confirmed the suppressive effects of MC on the keloid fibroblasts.
Conclusion: The application of topical MC to the resected bed of shave-removed ear keloids was successful in preventing recurrences and providing an acceptable cosmetic outcome.
© 2011 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.