Table 1.
Literature search results.
| Year | Article title | Authors | Citation | Study size (n) | Study duration (months) | Level of evidence | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Intralesional cryosurgery using lumbar puncture and/or hypodermic needles for large, bulky, recalcitrant keloids | Gupta et al. | Int J Dermatol 40: 349–353 | 12 | n/a | 4 | 58% (7/12) patients showed > 75% flattening |
| 2003 | Intralesional cryotherapy for enhancing the involution of hypertrophic scars and keloids | Har-Shai et al. | Plast Reconstr Surg 111(6): 1841–1852 | 10 | 18 | 4 | 51.4% mean scar volume reduction achieved after one treatment |
| 2006 | Intralesional cryosurgery enhances the involution of recalcitrant auricular keloids: a new clinical approach supported by experimental studies | Har-Shai et al. | Wound Repair Regen 14(1): 18–27 | 9 | 18 | 4 | 67.4% scar volume reduction at 18 months after single treatment (P < 0.005) |
| 2006 | Effect of skin surface temperature on skin pigmentation during contact and intralesional cryosurgery of keloids | Har-Shai et al. | J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 21: 191–198 | 30 | 6 | 4 | 91.7% significant hypopigmentation rate in contact cryo. No marked hypopigmentation with intralesional cryo (P < 0.0001) |
| 2008 | Intralesional cryosurgery for the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids following aesthetic surgery: the results of a prospective observational study | Har-Shai et al. | Int J Low Extrem Wounds 7(3): 169–175 | 11 | 3–96 | 4 | Significant reductions in concern scores (P = 0.001) and deformity scores (P = 0.004) after intralesional cryotherapy |
| 2012 | Intralesional cryosurgery and intralesional steroid injection: a good combination therapy for treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars | Weshahy et al. | Dermatologic Therapy 25 (3); 273–276. | 22 | 40 | 4 | 93.5% mean volume reduction after 4 months (P < 0.01) |
| 2012 | Intralesional cryosurgery for enhancing the involution of hypertrophic scars and keloid-A new fundamental adjunctive wound healing therapy based on experimental and clinical data | Har-Shai et al. | Wound Repair Regen 20 (5): A94 | 95 patients, 112 scars | 18 | 4 | Single treatment. 51% mean scar volume reduction. 7% scars
showed no response (conference article) |
| 2014 | Intralesional cryosurgery to treat keloid scars: results from a retrospective study | Chopinaud et al. | Dermatology 229(3): 263–270 | 10 patients, 14 scars | 10–72 | 4 | Scar surface was reduced by an average of 58.5% after intralesional cryosurgery treatment |
| 2014 | Up-to-date approach to manage keloids and hypertrophic scars: a useful guide | Arno et al. | Burns 40(7): 1255–1266. | n/a | n/a | 4 | Review |
| 2014 | A new argon gas-based device for the treatment of keloid scars with the use of intralesional cryotherapy | Leeuwen et al. | J Plast Reconstr Aesth Surg 67(12): 1703–1710 | 25 | 12 | 4 | 62% scar volume reduction (P = 0.05). Pain, itch and scar quality were improved. Scar pigmentation recovered in 62%. 17% recurrence rate |
| 2015 | Intralesional cryotherapy for treatment of keloid scars: a prospective study | Van Leeuwen et al. | Plast Reconstr Surg 135(2): 580–589 | 27 | 12 | 4 | Mean volume reduction 63%. Recurrence rate 24% |
| 2015 | Comparison of two devices for the treatment of keloid scars with the use of intralesional cryotherapy: An experimental study | Leeuwen et al. | Cryobiology 71(1): 146–150 | 8 | n/a | 4 | Argon gas device had lower recurrence rate but more hypopigmentation than to the liquid nitrogen device |
| 2015 | Intralesional vs. contact cryosurgery in treatment of keloids: A clinical and immunohistochemical study | Abdel-Meguid et al. | Int J Dermatol 54(4): 468–475. | 23 patients, 66 scars | n/a | 4 | Better excellent response rate (87% vs.60%); volume reduction (61% vs. 23%) and fewer side effects with intralesional cryosurgery than with contact cryosurgery (P < 0.05) |
| 2016 | Spray versus intralesional cryotherapy for keloids | Mourad et al. | J Dermatol Treatm 27(3): 264–269 | 50 | 6 | 4 | Intralesional cryotherapy showed greater efficacy. Fewer treatments required |
| 2016 | Intralesional cryosurgery for the treatment of keloid scars following cochlear implant surgery and removal cholesteatoma | Roitman et al. | Eur J Plastic Surg 39(4): 307–312 | 2 | 30 | 5 | Scars flattened and became paler. Symptoms reduced. No complications documented. No recurrence documented |