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5-FU may help treat periocular actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma
Periocular actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma in situ may be treated with the use of topical 5-fluorouracil, according to a study.
In a 14-patient retrospective case series, 13 patients had actinic keratosis and one patient had squamous cell carcinoma in situ. All patients were given an initial treatment regimen of 5% 5-FU applied twice daily for 14 days to the entire lesion and adjacent skin. Six lesions involved the upper eyelid, and eight lesions involved the lower eyelid.
Six patients needed a second 2-week treatment due to residual lesion. Two additional patients were given a second 2-week treatment 6 weeks after the initial treatment. The patient with squamous cell carcinoma was given a second treatment at the 8-week follow-up, as well as a third course of treatment dispensed at the 10-week follow-up due to recurrence.
Patients were followed for an average of 38 months, and the average time of recurrence was 12 months. Transient ocular adverse effects were observed in two patients.
“Topical 5% 5-FU may be a safe and effective treatment option for patients with periocular [actinic keratosis] or [squamous cell carcinoma] in situ,” according to the study authors. “Regardless of treatment method used, all patients with [actinic keratosis] need continued follow-up to detect recurrences or new neoplastic lesions.”