Intraoperative application of mitomycin C in the surgical treatment of pterygium.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effectiveness of intraoperative mitomycin C in pterygium surgery.


METHODS
The effectiveness of intraoperatively administered mitomycin C and the occurrence of postoperative complications were evaluated in 17 patients with two recurrences of pterygium. The authors employed the "bare-sclera technique" and placed a sterile sponge soaked in a 0.02% mitomycin C solution intraoperatively in the episcleral space for 3 minutes. The control group (15 patients) underwent only surgical excision. Patients were followed for 21 to 30 months.


RESULTS
The pterygium recurred in one (5.9%) of the 17 patients in group 1 and in six (40%) of the 15 controls. Statistical analysis using Fisher's exact test showed a significant (p = 0.027) reduction of recurrences of pterygium in the group treated intraoperatively with mitomycin C. No serious complications or side effects arose during the follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
Mitomycin C administered intraoperatively can be considered an effective treatment to improve the success rate after surgical excision.
Demirok
A
A
Yüzüncü Yil Universitesi Tip Fakültesi, Van, Türkey.
Simsek
S
S
Cinal
A
A
Yasar
T
T
D000328:Adult; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D011625:Pterygium / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D016685:Mitomycin