LONG-TERM RESULTS OF INTRAOPERATIVE MITOMYCIN-C IN THE TREATMENT OF RECURRENT PTERYGIUM

Aim-The study was designed to evaluate the long term results of intrao perative mitomycin C in patients with one recurrence of pterygium. Met hods-In 45 white patients with one recurrence of pterygium the 'bare s clera technique' was performed and a sterile sponge soaked in a 0 . 2 mg/ml (0 . 02%) mitomycin C solution was placed intra-operatively on t he sclera for 3 minutes. The control group underwent surgical excision only. Recurrences were analysed by the chi(2) test and the method of Kaplan-Meier (life table analysis); the difference between survival cu rves was tested by the log rank test. The chi(2) test with Yates's cor rection or Fisher's exact test were used to analyse the difference in complications and side effects between the two groups. Results-After a mean postoperative follow up of 34 . 55 (SD 13 . 70) months, 6 recurr ences (12 . 5%) were observed in the mitomycin C treated patients and 16 (35 . 6%) in the control patients (p = 0 . 027). The 24 and 48 mont h life table success rates were 89% and 83% in the mitomycin C treated group and 66% and 63% in the control group, respectively (p = 0 . 022 ). No severe side effects appeared during follow up. Superficial punct ate keratitis appeared in the early postoperative period in only seven mitomycin C treated eyes (15 . 5%) (p = 0 . 018). Conclusion-This stu dy confirms the efficacy of intraoperative mitomycin C in improving th e success rate after recurrent pterygium surgical excision.