Treatment of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma with topical 5-fluorouracil

Aim-To evaluate the efficacy of topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) alone, withou t concurrent surgery or radiotherapy for the treatment of conjunctival squa mous cell. carcinoma. Methods-Eight patients affected by conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (th ree recurrent cases, three incompletely excised, and two untreated cases) w ere treated with 1% 5-FU eye drops. Topical 1% 5-FU was administered four t imes daily for 4 weeks (one course). Clinical examination (biomicroscopy an d photography) and morphological evaluation of conjunctival cytological spe cimens were used to monitor the efficacy of local chemotherapy, side effect s, and recurrences; Results-All patients showed clinical regression of conjunctival carcinoma a fter topical 1% 5-FU treatment. Neoplastic conjunctiva was completely repla ced by normal epithelium within 3 months. Mean follow up was 27 months. One patient needed two courses of local chemotherapy for recurrent disease. An acute transient toxic keratoconjunctivitis was observed in all treated cas es; it was easily controlled with topical therapy. No long term side effect s were found. Conclusions-Topical 1% 5-FU is effective in the treatment of recurrent, inc ompletely excised, and selected untreated conjunctival squamous cell carcin omas. Topical 1% 5-FU has no major complications. This study suggests that topical conjunctival chemotherapy with 1% 5-FU may be useful, at least as a djunctive therapy, in the treatment of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma .