Korean J Dermatol.  2021 Jan;59(1):8-14.

Clinical and Epidemiological Study of Ear Keloids: A 10-year Single-Institution Study

• Kim CJ
• Choi H
• Na CH
• Shin BS
• Kim MS

Abstract

Background
Keloids are benign dermal fibrous growths associated with excessive collagen deposition that usually occurs after trauma or surgery. To date, the clinical features and epidemiology of ear keloids have not been comprehensively investigated.
Objective
We investigated the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of ear keloids in Koreans.
Methods
We retrospectively investigated Koreans diagnosed with ear keloids by dermatologists at the Department of Dermatology, Chosun University Hospital, between January 2010 and December 2019.
Results
The study included 95 patients with 120 ear keloid lesions (mean size of lesions 1.12×1.45 cm²). Based on the ear anatomy, the keloids were observed at the following sites: the helix in 61 (50.8%) patients, the earlobe in 37 (30.8%) patients, antihelix in 10 (8.3%) patients, scapha in 3 (2.5%) patients, and the postauricular region in 9 (7.5%) patients. Among the keloids evaluated, 67 (55.8%), 36 (30.0%), 9 (7.5%), and 8 (6.7%) were categorized as lobular, dumb-bell, button, and wrap-around types, respectively. Most (75%) keloids were located on the posterior surface of the ears. Notably, 26 patients had a family history of keloids, which was significantly correlated with the development of keloids at other sites (p＜0.001).
Conclusion
The helix was the most common site of involvement, and lobular keloids represented the most common variety of keloids observed in this study. Keloids occurred most frequently on the posterior surface of the ears and were bigger at these sites. Patients with a family history of keloids were significantly more likely to develop keloids in areas other than the ears.

Keyword

Classification; Ear; Epidemiology; Family; Keloid