Which statement best describes a keloid?

Which statement best describes a keloid?

• A. Unchecked proliferation of fibrous tissue in the skin
• B. It remains confined to the site of the original skin injury
• C. It represents a dermal inflammatory reaction only
• D. It resolves spontaneously without treatment

Answer: (A)

Keloids are an overgrowth of scar tissue that results from abnormal wound healing, with excessive fibroblast activity and collagen deposition. The hallmark is that this fibrous tissue grows beyond the boundaries of the original skin injury and tends to persist, often not regressing on its own. This makes the description of unchecked proliferation of fibrous tissue in the skin the best fit. In contrast, a scar that stays within the wound border describes a hypertrophic scar, not a keloid. Describing it as merely a dermal inflammatory reaction misses the key feature of dense fibrous overgrowth, and saying it resolves spontaneously contradicts the typical course of keloids, which commonly persist and can be difficult to treat.

Keloids are an overgrowth of scar tissue that results from abnormal wound healing, with excessive fibroblast activity and collagen deposition. The hallmark is that this fibrous tissue grows beyond the boundaries of the original skin injury and tends to persist, often not regressing on its own. This makes the description of unchecked proliferation of fibrous tissue in the skin the best fit.

In contrast, a scar that stays within the wound border describes a hypertrophic scar, not a keloid. Describing it as merely a dermal inflammatory reaction misses the key feature of dense fibrous overgrowth, and saying it resolves spontaneously contradicts the typical course of keloids, which commonly persist and can be difficult to treat.