Long term results of intraoperative mitomycin C in the treatment of recurrent pterygium.
OBJECTIVE
The study was designed to evaluate the long term results of intraoperative mitomycin C in patients with one recurrence of pterygium.


METHODS
In 45 white patients with one recurrence of pterygium the 'bare sclera technique' was performed and a sterile sponge soaked in a 0.2 mg/ml (0.02%) mitomycin C solution was placed intraoperatively on the sclera for 3 minutes. The control group underwent surgical excision only. Recurrences were analysed by the chi 2 test and the method of Kaplan-Meier (life table analysis); the difference between survival curves was tested by the log rank test. The chi 2 test with Yates's correction or Fisher's exact test were used to analyse the difference in complications and side effects between the two groups.


RESULTS
After a mean postoperative follow up of 34.55 (SD 13.70) months, 6 recurrences (12.5%) were observed in the mitomycin C treated patients and 16 (35.6%) in the control patients (p = 0.027). The 24 and 48 month life table success rates were 89% and 83% in the mitomycin C treated group and 66% and 63% in the control group, respectively (p = 0.022). No severe side effects appeared during follow up. Superficial punctate keratitis appeared in the early postoperative period in only seven mitomycin C treated eyes (15.5%) (p = 0.018).


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the efficacy of intraoperative mitomycin C in improving the success rate after recurrent pterygium surgical excision.
Mastropasqua
L
L
Institute of Ophthalmology, University G D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy.
Carpineto
P
P
Ciancaglini
M
M
Enrico Gallenga
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D007634:Keratitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011625:Pterygium / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D016685:Mitomycin