title: A retrospective comparison of surgical removal and subsequent CO2 laser ablation versus topical administration of mitomycin C as therapy for equine corneolimbal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the complications and nonrecurrence rate following topical mitomycin C (MMC) therapy vs. CO(2) laser ablation for treating equine corneolimbal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five horses with corneolimbal SCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of horses undergoing surgical tumor resection followed by either topical MMC therapy (0.04%) or CO(2) laser ablation between the years of 2004 and 2010 were reviewed. Recurrence and complications were compared between groups and within MMC subgroups defined by the time at which treatment was initiated relative to surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Therapy with topical MMC resulted in a nonrecurrence rate comparable to that achieved with CO(2) laser ablation (82.4% vs. 85.7%, respectively). Initiation of MMC following epithelialization of the surgical site a mean of 15 days postoperatively did not result in increased recurrence rates relative to treatment in the immediate postoperative period. Vision- or globe-threatening complications tended to occur with greater frequency in horses receiving topical MMC in the immediate postoperative period (5 of 6 major complications) relative to following epithelialization of the surgical site (1 of 6 major complications).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Horses receiving adjunctive topical MMC therapy were no more likely to experience tumor recurrence than were horses undergoing CO(2) laser ablation in the horses in this study. Initiation of two to three rounds of MMC following epithelialization of the surgical site results in fewer major complications and achieves comparable disease resolution relative to treatment in the immediate postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1052 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA. abclode@ncsu.edu
authors.forename: Alison B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Clode
authors.forename: Chelsey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McMullen
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Gilger
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006736:Horses; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D016685:Mitomycin