title: Pterygium recurrence related to its size and corneal involvement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the usefulness of grading system based on the size and extent of corneal involvement in predicting recurrence in patients undergoing primary pterygium excision with intraoperative use of adjunctive topical Mitomycin-C (MMC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Section of Ophthalmology, the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from 2005 till 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty male patients (120 eyes) underwent surgical removal of pterygium using bare sclera method with MMC in concentration of 0.2 mg/ml (0.02%) with exposure time of 3 minutes. Classification of subjects was done according to the grading of pterygium. Patients were followed at 3 months interval for a minimum period of 1 year to record any recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pterygium recurrence rate was 6.7% at a follow-up of 1 year. There was no significant association of pterygium recurrence with younger age (p = 0.14). A higher level of corneal involvement by the pterygium at presentation correlated significantly with the recurrence (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that a higher grade of pterygium at presentation in patients leads to increased rate of recurrence after surgical excision. Hence, early excision of pterygium is recommended to decrease its recurrence rate.
authors: Section of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. salim.mahar@aku.edu
authors: Pir Salim
authors: PS
authors: Mahar
authors: Nabeel
authors: N
authors: Manzar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010154:Pakistan; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011625:Pterygium / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000477:Alkylating Agents; D016685:Mitomycin