Intraoperative Injection of Coloring Dye in the Surgical Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Case Report

Abstract

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a recurring and chronic inflammatory skin disease. Various medical and surgical treatments, with varying degrees of efficacy, have been applied based on the Hurley staging system. Since medical treatment cannot change the natural course of the disease and relapse is inevitable in the long-term, radical excision to reduce recurrences is considered as the only curative therapy option for patients with severe II and III stage HS. However, such methods may require intensive reconstructive surgeries and are often accompanied by intraoperative or postoperative problems, resulting in extended treatments. Several methods to detect the degree of the disease and define the resection area have been employed; coloring agents have also been recommended as an option. In this case, we focused on the use of a coloring dye to determine the precise resection margin for a patient with severe HS, as there have been no conclusive reports on the use of a coloring dye in intraoperative operations or follow-up findings. This method could help preserve more viable tissue to reduce the possibility of complications and the duration of hospitalization.