Topical chemotherapy of lentigo maligna with 5-fluorouracil

Three patients with biopsy-proven lentigo maligna were treated with topical 5-fluorouracil. Treatment consisted of twice daily application of 5% 5-fluorouracil cream for 13, 6, and 9 weeks, respectively. Two patients demonstrated presence of invasive melanoma; in one the melanoma was evident before chemotherapy, and in the other the lesion became evident after chemotherapy. In both the lentigo was treated topically and the melanoma excised locally. Posttreatment followup times through April 1, 1974 have been 42, 24, and 22 months, respectively. There has been no evidence of metastases in any patient. Topical chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil cream appears to offer an encouraging alternative method of therapy for lentigo maligna of the face.