Abstract: Objective To observe the clinical effects of surgical excision combining shallow X-ray radiation in the treatment of keloids. Methods Two hundreds cases with keloids were enrolled, including 166 cases with the diameter less than 10 cm（83%） and 34 cases with the diameter more than 10 cm（17%）. In 132 cases, the duration was less than 5 years（66%）, while in 68 cases, the duration was more than 5 years（34%）. 121 cases received X-ray radiation immediately after surgery（60.5%）, 58 cases after clearing（29%） and 21 cases after incision healed（10.5%）. All the patients were followed up for 2 years after radiotherapy, and the clinical effects were observed. Results The keloids recurred in 31 cases within 2years（15.5%）, the effective rate was more than 80%. The effective rate of radiotherapy immediately after surgery, after clearing and after incision healed were 97%, 90% and 58% respectively. The recurrence rate was 6.63% in the keloids with the diameter less than 10 cm, and 23.5% in the keloids with the diameter more than 10 cm. The recurrence rate was 8.3% in the patients with the duration less than 5 years, and 11.7% in the patients with the duration more than 5 years. Radiationinduced ulceration was observed only in one case, and no other severe complication was observed. Conclusion Surgical excision combining shallow X-ray radiation is a safe and effective method for the treatment of keloids. Early postoperative radiotherapy can reduce the recurrence rate. The effect in the patients with less diameter and shorter duration is more obvious.

Key words: Keloids, X-ray radiation therapy, Recurrence rate