What course does keloid pursue?
Chronic; usually lasting throughout life. In rare instances spontaneous involution takes place.
State the etiology of keloid.
The causes are obscure. The growth usually takes its start from some injury or lesion of continuity; for instance, at the site of burns, cuts, acne and smallpox scars, etc.—cicatricial keloid, false keloid; or it may also, so it is thought, originate in normal skin—spontaneous keloid, true keloid.
What is the pathology of keloid?
The lesion is a connective-tissue new growth having its seat in the corium.
Is there any difficulty in the diagnosis of keloid?
No. It resembles hypertrophic scar; but this latter, which is essentially keloidal, never extends beyond the line of injury.
Give the prognosis.
The growth is persistent and usually irresponsive to treatment. In some cases, however, there is eventually a tendency to spontaneous retrogression, up to a certain point at least.