An excessive growth of scar tissue is called what?

• A. Fibrosis
• B. Scar
• C. Hematoma
• D. Keloid

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is distinguishing normal scar tissue from an overgrowth that extends beyond the original wound. A keloid is an overgrowth of scar tissue that continues to form beyond the wound margins, making a raised, often enlarging scar. This happens because of an exaggerated collagen deposition during healing. By contrast, fibrosis is general scar tissue formation that can occur in many tissues and isn’t necessarily tied to the boundaries of a specific wound. A scar is the usual, limited mark left after healing, and a hematoma is a collection of blood outside vessels, not scar tissue. So the term for excessive scar tissue that grows beyond the wound is keloid.