Comparative Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Radiofrequency Ablation versus Trichloroacetic Acid in the Treatment of Xanthelasma Palpebrarum.

Abstract

Background:Xanthelasma palpebrarum (XP) is a metabolic disorder involving the eyelids. Radiofrequency(RF) surgery and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) applications have been listed among the procedures for XP, but comparative studies are not available.Aim:To compare the efficacy of radiofrequency surgery versus trichloroacetic acid application in the treatment of XP.Settings and Design:20 consecutive cases of XP attending dermatology, medicine and endocrinology out-patient departments of M.S. Ramaiah teaching hospital were enrolled for the study. It was an open-label clinical trial conducted in our hospital for a duration of 1 year.Materials and Methods:20 consecutive patients conforming to inclusion criteria were selected for the study. For each patient, lesions were treated with radiofrequency ablation on one side and TCA application on the other side.Results:RF ablation was done for 12 patients over right eye lesions and 8 patients over the left eye lesions. TCA applications were done for 8 patients over right eye lesions and 12 patients over left eye lesions. 70% of lesions treated with RF ablation had a score of improvement of 4 and 70% of lesions treated with TCA application had a score of improvement of 4, at 4 weeks of follow-up. At four weeks of follow-up 40% in RF group and 15% in TCA group had scarring and 45% in RF group and 30% in TCA group had pigmentation.Conclusion:RF ablation as compared to TCA application, required fewer sessions for achieving more than 75% clearance of lesions. However, TCA applications were associated with fewer complications comparatively.