Axillary osmidrosis is characterized by offensive odor resulting from bacterial decomposition of apocrine secretions in the axillae, and individuals with axillary osmidrosis suffer detrimental effects to their psychosocial functioning. We searched the literature in January 2019 for all English-language publications discussing axillary osmidrosis to identify previous reports, present trends, and emerging treatments. Studies were listed chronologically by the country of the first author's institution. Publications were also classified regarding the study type (literature review), pathophysiology, and treatments. We identified 133 publications on axillary osmidrosis, and of these, 120 were from East-Asian countries. Before 1990, there were only 9 publications, but after 2000, publications increased in number. One hundred of 133 reports discussed treatment, namely, 39 reports on suction curettage, 28 reports on open surgery, and 8 reports on subdermal laser. Other studies focused on the pathophysiology of axillary osmidrosis. This literature review revealed unique trends in the identified studies. Because control of axillary odor is a universal subject, the etiology and pathophysiology of axillary osmidrosis have been studied throughout the world and are clearly described. However, almost all studies of surgical treatments have been performed in East-Asian countries. After the year 2000, various surgical and nonsurgical treatments, namely, laser therapy and suction curettage, have been attempted. Emerging treatments for axillary osmidrosis include ethanol injections, microwave therapy, and microneedle radiofrequency technologies; however, further studies of these treatments are needed.

Background Individuals with axillary osmidrosis suffer detrimental effects to their psychosocial functioning. In Asian nations, major operations for axillary osmidrosis include subdermal excision (open surgery) and suction-curettage (closed surgery). Objective The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine which of these two procedures is most favorable in terms of safety and efficacy. Methods According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Metaanalyses (PRISMA) guideline, we searched electronic databases for articles published in English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese languages. Fixed-effects model meta-analyses of odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were conducted, and the I 2 was used to assess heterogeneity. Complication rates, recurrence/ineffectiveness rates, and patient satisfaction data were extracted and compared between open and closed surgeries. Results Our search yielded 8 articles that include 1,179 patients; 560 underwent open surgery, and 619 underwent closed surgery. Our meta-analysis revealed that suction-curettage had a significantly lower risk of acute adverse events than open excision (OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.07~0.32), whereas open excision was significantly superior to suction-curettage for recurrence/ineffectiveness rate (OR, 2.90; 95% CI, 1.37~6.15). Patient satisfaction was equally high with both treatments (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 0.69~3.60). Conclusion Since surgical treatments for axillary osmidrosis have been performed mostly in East Asian nations, it was meaningful to review articles published in four languages. This meta-analysis revealed that closed surgery was safer but less effective than open surgery. However, both patient groups expressed high satisfaction with the outcomes. Our results may be helpful for deciding surgical treatment options.

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K. Safety and efficacy of surgical treatments for axillary osmidrosis: a retrospective cohort study comparing conventional open excision with cartilage-shaver closed curettage.