Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Dermatology and Therapy
Published in: Dermatology and Therapy 2/2016

Open Access 01-06-2016 | Review

5-Fluorouracil in the Treatment of Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Authors: Vidhi V. Shah, Adam S. Aldahan, Stephanie Mlacker, Mohammed Alsaidan, Sahal Samarkandy, Keyvan Nouri

Published in: Dermatology and Therapy | Issue 2/2016

Login to get access

Abstract

Hypertrophic (HTSs) and keloid scars are common dermatological complaints produced by disruption of the normal wound-healing process. Despite a wide array of therapeutic options available to treat these lesions, HTSs and keloids continue to pose a significant challenge to clinicians in everyday practice. The chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a well-known treatment option reserved for recalcitrant HTSs and keloid lesions. We present clinicians with a comprehensive review of the published data concerning the use of 5-FU in the treatment of HTSs and keloids. The current evidence suggests that 5-FU is a safe and practical alternative for the treatment of HTSs and keloids as it may substantially improve the appearance of proliferative scars and reduce the chance of recurrence. This therapeutic option is most effective in conjunction with adjuvant therapy such as corticosteroids. Additional randomized controlled clinical trials with large sample sizes should be conducted to corroborate the existing efficacy and safety data in patients with HTSs and keloids.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
2.
Bijlard E, Steltenpool S, Niessen FB. Intralesional 5-fluorouracil in keloid treatment: a systematic review. Acta Derm Venereol. 2015;95(7):778–82.PubMed
3.
Wang XQ, et al. A review of the effectiveness of antimitotic drug injections for hypertrophic scars and keloids. Ann Plast Surg. 2009;63(6):688–92.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Berman B, et al. Prevention and management of hypertrophic scars and keloids after burns in children. J Craniofac Surg. 2008;19(4):989–1006.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Reish RG, Eriksson E. Scar treatments: preclinical and clinical studies. J Am Coll Surg. 2008;206(4):719–30.CrossRefPubMed
6.
7.
Bouzari N, Davis SC, Nouri K. Laser treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars. Int J Dermatol. 2007;46(1):80–8.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Ledon JA, et al. Intralesional treatment for keloids and hypertrophic scars: a review. Dermatol Surg. 2013;39(12):1745–57.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Froelich K, et al. Therapy of auricular keloids: review of different treatment modalities and proposal for a therapeutic algorithm. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2007;264(12):1497–508.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Son IP, et al. Pilot study of the efficacy of 578 nm copper bromide laser combined with intralesional corticosteroid injection for treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars. Ann Dermatol. 2014;26(2):156–61.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
11.
Cannarozzo G, et al. Flash-lamp pulsed-dye laser treatment of keloids: results of an observational study. Photomed Laser Surg. 2015;33(5):274–7.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Azzam OA, et al. Treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids by fractional carbon dioxide laser: a clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical study. Lasers Med Sci. 2015;31(1):9–18.CrossRef
13.
Polat M, Kaya H, Sahin A. A new approach in the treatment of keloids: UVA-1 laser. Photomed Laser Surg. 2016;34(3):130–3.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Jones CD, et al. The use of chemotherapeutics for the treatment of keloid scars. Dermatol Rep. 2015;7(2):5880.CrossRef
15.
Fitzpatrick RE. Treatment of inflamed hypertrophic scars using intralesional 5-FU. Dermatol Surg. 1999;25(3):224–32.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Wu XL, Liu W, Cao YL. Clinical study on keloid treatment with intralesional injection of low concentration 5-fluorouracil. Zhonghua Zheng Xing Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2006;22(1):44–6.PubMed
17.
Gupta S, Kalra A. Efficacy and safety of intralesional 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of keloids. Dermatology. 2002;204(2):130–2.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Nanda S, Reddy BS. Intralesional 5-fluorouracil as a treatment modality of keloids. Dermatol Surg. 2004;30(1):54–6 (discussion 56–7).PubMed
19.
Kontochristopoulos G, et al. Intralesional 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of keloids: an open clinical and histopathologic study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005;52(3 Pt 1):474–9.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Goldan O, et al. Treatment of postdermabrasion facial hypertrophic and keloid scars with intralesional 5-Fluorouracil injections. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2008;32(2):389–92.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Haurani MJ, et al. 5-Fluorouracil treatment of problematic scars. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009;123(1):139–48 (discussion 149–51).CrossRefPubMed
22.
Saha AK, Mukhopadhyay M. A comparative clinical study on role of 5-flurouracil versus triamcinolone in the treatment of keloids. Indian J Surg. 2012;74(4):326–9.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
23.
Khare N, Patil SB. A novel approach for management of ear keloids: results of excision combined with 5-fluorouracil injection. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2012;65(11):e315–7.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Prabhu A, et al. A randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of intralesional 5-fluorouracil versus triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of keloids. J Sci Soc. 2012;39(1):19.CrossRef
25.
Manuskiatti W, Fitzpatrick RE. Treatment response of keloidal and hypertrophic sternotomy scars: comparison among intralesional corticosteroid, 5-fluorouracil, and 585-nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser treatments. Arch Dermatol. 2002;138(9):1149–55.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Apikian M, Goodman G. Intralesional 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of keloid scars. Australas J Dermatol. 2004;45(2):140–3.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Davison SP, et al. Efficacy of intralesional 5-fluorouracil and triamcinolone in the treatment of keloids. Aesthet Surg J. 2009;29(1):40–6.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Khan MA, Bashir MM, Khan FA. Intralesional triamcinolone alone and in combination with 5-fluorouracil for the treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars. J Pak Med Assoc. 2014;64(9):1003–7.PubMed
29.
Mutalik S, Patwardhan N. Use of injection five fluorouracil (FFU) with or without injection trimacinolone in the management of hypertrophic scars and keloids. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2008;1(1):36.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
30.
Asilian A, Darougheh A, Shariati F. New combination of triamcinolone, 5-fluorouracil, and pulsed-dye laser for treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars. Dermatol Surg. 2006;32(7):907–15.PubMed
31.
Darougheh A, Asilian A, Shariati F. Intralesional triamcinolone alone or in combination with 5-fluorouracil for the treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2009;34(2):219–23.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Katz TM, et al. 595-nm long pulsed dye laser and 1450-nm diode laser in combination with intralesional triamcinolone/5-fluorouracil for hypertrophic scarring following a phenol peel. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010;62(6):1045–9.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Hatamipour E, et al. Effects of combined intralesional 5-fluorouracil and topical silicone in prevention of keloids: a double blind randomized clinical trial study. Acta Med Iran. 2011;49(3):127–30.PubMed
34.
Uppal RS, et al. The effects of a single dose of 5-fluorouracil on keloid scars: a clinical trial of timed wound irrigation after extralesional excision. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2001;108(5):1218–24.CrossRefPubMed
35.
Sadeghinia A, Sadeghinia S. Comparison of the efficacy of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide and 5-fluorouracil tattooing for the treatment of keloids. Dermatol Surg. 2012;38(1):104–9.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Wilson AM. Eradication of keloids: surgical excision followed by a single injection of intralesional 5-fluorouracil and botulinum toxin. Can J Plast Surg. 2013;21(2):87–91.PubMedPubMedCentral
37.
Blumenkranz MS, Claflin A, Hajek AS. Selection of therapeutic agents for intraocular proliferative disease. Arch Ophthalmol. 1984;102(4):598–604.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Alster TS, Williams CM. Treatment of keloid sternotomy scars with 585 nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser. Lancet. 1995;345(8959):1198–200.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Gold MH, et al. Updated international clinical recommendations on scar management: part 2—algorithms for scar prevention and treatment. Dermatol Surg. 2014;40(8):825–31.PubMed
Metadata
Title
5-Fluorouracil in the Treatment of Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature
Authors
Vidhi V. Shah
Adam S. Aldahan
Stephanie Mlacker
Mohammed Alsaidan
Sahal Samarkandy
Keyvan Nouri
Publication date
01-06-2016
Publisher
Springer Healthcare
Published in
Dermatology and Therapy / Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 2193-8210
Electronic ISSN: 2190-9172
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-016-0118-5

Other articles of this Issue 2/2016

Dermatology and Therapy 2/2016 Go to the issue

Review

Systemic Treatment of Pediatric Psoriasis: A Review

Erratum

Erratum to: New Patient-Oriented Tools for Assessing Atrophic Acne Scarring

Original Research

Erythema of Rosacea Impairs Health-Related Quality of Life: Results of a Meta-analysis

Erratum

Erratum to: Letter from the Editors

Erratum

Erratum to: Erythema of Rosacea Impairs Health-Related Quality of Life: Results of a Meta-analysis

Original Research

CD30+ Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma: Response to Rotational Total Skin Electron Irradiation
Obesity Clinical Trial Summary

At a glance: The STEP trials

Read more

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.

Developed by: Springer Medicine

Highlights from the ACC 2024 Congress

Year in Review: Pediatric cardiology

Pediatric Cardiology Video

Watch Dr. Anne Marie Valente present the last year's highlights in pediatric and congenital heart disease in the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Pulmonary vascular disease

Cardiopulmonary Comorbidity Video

The last year's highlights in pulmonary vascular disease are presented by Dr. Jane Leopold in this official video from ACC.24.

Year in Review: Valvular heart disease

Valvular Heart Disease Video

Watch Prof. William Zoghbi present the last year's highlights in valvular heart disease from the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Heart Failure Video

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discuss last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Heart Failure Video

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Watch now

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discuss last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

16-04-2024 Type 2 Diabetes News

Incentivised to exercise

11-04-2024 Lifestyle Modifications News

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

10-04-2024 Myocardial Infarction News

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page

Image Credits