Management of epidermal cysts arising from scar tissues: A retrospective clinical study

Few reports have described epidermal cysts (ECs) arising from scar tissues, and the standard course of treatment has not been established. We aimed to report the findings of a Korean patient series with ECs arising from scar tissues, to describe patient management in the context of previous publications, and to present a simple algorithm for managing ECs arising from scar tissues. We managed 6 patients with ECs arising from scar tissues, and retrospectively reviewed their demographic and clinical data. The scars were located on the anterior chest wall (n = 3), shoulder (n = 1), forehead (n = 1), and ear lobule (n = 1). Two patients with anterior chest wall scars, 1 with a shoulder scar, and 1 with an ear lobule scar had keloid scars, whereas the other patients had hypertrophic scars. The scar sizes ranged from 2 × 1 cm to 9 × 7 cm. The EC sizes ranged from 0.2 × 0.2 cm to 2 × 1.5 cm. Three patients underwent total scar revisions with complete EC excisions, 2 underwent partial scar tissue excisions with complete EC excisions, and 1 had laser therapy for the scar and EC. No complications occurred, and all patients’ final outcomes were satisfactory during the mean follow-up period of 14.8 months. We successfully managed the patients with ECs arising from scar tissues. We recommend that surgeons and patients first decide whether the ECs and scar tissue should be completely removed. Moreover, consideration should be given to the options chosen for the management of ECs. Finally, postoperative scar care is necessary to prevent hypertrophic and keloid scar recurrences.