Intraoperative mitomycin C 0.02% for pterygium: effect of duration of application on recurrence rate.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of a 3- and 5-minute intraoperative application of topical mitomycin C 0.02% on the recurrence of pterygium.


METHODS
A comparative, prospective clinical design was used. The study population consisted of 134 consecutive patients with unilateral primary advanced pterygium (growth of 3 mm or more horizontally from the limbus). All underwent excision of the lesion, leaving the sclera bare. At completion of surgery, topical mitomycin C 0.02% was applied for 3 minutes in the first 60 patients (group A) and for 5 minutes in the remaining 74 patients (group B). The patients were followed for 26 months by slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination of the anterior segment. Recurrent pterygium was defined as the postoperative appearance of a fibrovascular tissue crossing the limbus.


RESULTS
After 12 months of follow-up, pterygium recurred in 20 patients (33.3%) in group A and in two patients (2.7%) in group B. After 15 months, the recurrence rates were 36.6% and 5.4%, respectively, and remained unchanged at 26 months. There were no cases of drug toxicity in either group.


CONCLUSIONS
Five-minute intraoperative application of a single dose of 0.02% mitomycin C is safe and more effective than a 3-minute application in recurrence of pterygium.
Avisar
Rahamim
R
Cornea and External Eye Disease Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Golda Campus, Petah Tiqva 49 100, Israel. lavisar@bezeqint.net
Gaton
Dan D
DD
Loya
Nisim
N
Appel
Itiel
I
Weinberger
Dov
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011625:Pterygium / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012449:Safety; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D016685:Mitomycin