Trial Information

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

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