Comparison of Excision Versus Punch Incision in the Treatment of Epidermal Cysts

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this trial is to compare two standard of care treatments for removing epidermal cysts. Surgical excision removes the entire cyst but requires a larger hole in the skin. A punch incision makes a smaller hole through which the cyst can be removed. The trial's purpose is to determine if one method is better than another in terms of recurrence, infection, or other side effects.

Detailed Description
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The purpose of this trial is to compare two standard of care treatments for removing epidermal cysts. Surgical excision removes the entire cyst but requires a larger hole in the skin. A punch incision makes a smaller hole through which the cyst can be removed. The trial's purpose is to determine if one method is better than another in terms of recurrence, infection, or other side effects. Patients with epidermal cysts will be randomized to having the cyst removed by surgical excision or by a smaller punch incision followed by removal of the cyst through the smaller hole. The skin will be stitched shut in both cases. A short survey about how the cyst affects the patient will be given before the cyst is removed. When the stitches are removed 2 weeks later, photographs will be taken and a survey regarding satisfaction with the procedure will be given. Two additional phone surveys, given at 4 and 12 months after the procedure, wil be given to ask about recurrence, satisfaction with the procedure, side effects, and how the cyst affected the patient's life. The study doctor will be blinded as to which procedure each subject underwent. Forty subjects will be recruited at the Atlanta Veteran's Administration Medical Center

Official Title
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Comparison of Excision Versus Punch Incision in the Treatment of Epidermal Cysts

Conditions
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Epidermal Cyst

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Excisional surgery of epidermal cyst
* Procedure: Punch incision of epidermal cyst


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Adult 18 years or older Epidermal cyst 1-3 cm in diameter on the trunk Exclusion Criteria: Infected cyst requiring systemic antibiotics Pregnant females Unable to return to clinic for suture removal Previous excision of target cyst

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Punch excision<br> | Procedure: Punch incision of epidermal cyst<br>* removal of cyst first with incisional effort with a punch biopsy tool<br>|
| Active Comparator: Traditional excision<br> | Procedure: Excisional surgery of epidermal cyst<br>* Traditional extirpation of cyst en toto<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of Participants With Cyst Recurrence | Recurrence of cyst after removal | 16 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Epidermal cyst, Epidermoid cyst, Sebaceous cyst, Pilar cyst