Effects of Solcoderm.

The effects of treatment and depths of penetration of a 5-fluorouracil and salicylic acid preparation (Solcoderm) were studied in 24 patients treated for basal cell carcinoma with this compound. Two thirds of the patients in our study showed islands of residual tumor in the dermis following treatment, whereas total disappearance of the tumor was observed in one third. The depth of the fibrotic changes induced by the drug varied from 0.34 to 0.40 cm for the morphea type of basal cell carcinoma and from 0.52 to 0.88 cm for the conventional types. It is recommended that treatment with this compound be reserved only for superficial basal cell carcinomas and that it be avoided altogether in basal cell carcinomas of the morphea type.