The Role of 5-Fluorouracil in Preventing Recurrence After Enucleation of Odontogenic Keratocyst: A Case Report

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 15; no. 9
• Main Authors: Barua, Chuimee Gogoi, Ali, Iqbal, Tripathi, Ashish, Malakar, Arindam, Singha, Pranjit K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palo Alto Cureus Inc 06.09.2023; Cureus
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Asymptomatic; Biopsy; Cancer; Case reports; Cysts; Dehydrogenases; Dentistry; Enzymes; Jaw; Keratin; Metabolites; Mutation; Nitrogen; Pathology; Preventive Medicine
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.44777

The odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is known for its high recurrence rate and disputed treatment modalities. In this report, we review the literature elucidating the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) topical application for recurrent OKC, and discuss the management of an OKC with 5-FU after enucleation and a 12-month follow-up.A 38-year-old female patient with an aggressive OKC in the right mandible underwent surgical curettage followed by topical application of 5-FU. Regular follow-up examinations for 12 months (radiological evaluation at three, six, and 12-month intervals) showed no signs of recurrence, with complete resolution of the cystic lesion and gradual bone regeneration. New bone formation was identified in the radiographic follow-up. This case demonstrates the potential efficacy of topical 5-FU as a promising treatment modality for OKC, warranting further research and validation. A novel and successful therapy for OKC is the topical application of 5-FU. After enucleation, topical application of 5-FU efficiently treats OKC, leading to normal bone healing and regeneration without any adverse local or systemic effects.