Purpose: To describe the histopathological findings and successful treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) of a conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia with limbal stem cell deficiency that was refractive to topical mitomycin-C (MMC).
Design: Interventional case report.
Intervention: A 64-year-old male patient presented with a diffuse conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) that was excised with concurrent keratoepithelioplasty. Because of a recurrence and the presence of limbal stem cell deficiency, he was placed on topical MMC. Despite two courses of MMC, the tumor size did not decrease, and topical 5-FU was started 1 year after MMC therapy began. Limbal autograft transplantation was performed thereafter.
Main outcome measures: The clinical and histopathologic findings including impression cytology and biomicroscopic observations.
Results: After 5-FU treatment, the patient was free of the tumor clinically and cytologically, and the corneal surface had cleared. No recurrence was observed during the 30 months after the 5-FU therapy. Serious complications have not been observed.
Conclusions: Topical 5-FU may be a therapeutic option for the treatment of patients with MMC-resistant CINs. The success of 5-FU is believed to be the result of a difference in the mechanism of cytotoxicity of MMC and 5-FU or the additive effects of the two agents.