title: Minor ipsilateral simple limbal epithelial transplantation (mini-SLET) for pterygium treatment.
abstract: We describe a novel surgical technique for pterygium removal taking advantage of the properties of amniotic membrane and limbal epithelial stem cells. A total of 10 eyes underwent pterygium excision with amniotic membrane coverage of the bare sclera and placement of pieces of limbal epithelium in a linear fashion in the affected limbal area covered by a second amniotic membrane using fibrin glue. After up to 8 months of follow-up, there were no signs of early recurrence or sight-threatening complications. The minor ipsilateral simple limbal epithelial transplantation technique for the treatment of pterygium requires less tissue than the conventional conjunctival autograft, leaving healthy conjunctiva if needed for another procedure in the future and offers the advantages of epithelial stem cells, which in the long term may reduce the rate of recurrence significantly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Instituto de Oftalmologia, Fundacion Conde de Valenciana, México, D.F, México.
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hernández-Bogantes
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amescua
authors.affiliation: Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Instituto de Oftalmologia, Fundacion Conde de Valenciana, México, D.F, México.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navas
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Instituto de Oftalmología, Fundación Conde de Valenciana, México, D.F, México Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, UNAM, México, D.F, México.
authors.forename: Yonathan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Garfias
authors.affiliation: Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Instituto de Oftalmologia, Fundacion Conde de Valenciana, México, D.F, México.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramirez-Miranda
authors.affiliation: Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Instituto de Oftalmologia, Fundacion Conde de Valenciana, México, D.F, México.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lichtinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Instituto de Oftalmologia, Fundacion Conde de Valenciana, México, D.F, México.
authors.forename: Enrique O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Graue-Hernández
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011625:Pterygium / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
keywords: Conjunctiva; Cornea; Stem Cells