INTRAOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE USE OF MITOMYCIN-C IN THE TREATMENT OF PRIMARY PTERYGIUM

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The effectiveness of 0.04% mitomycin-C eithe r postoperatively for 2 weeks or intraoperatively as a single dose, as an adjunct in the surgical treatment of primary pterygium was evaluat ed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Mitomycin-C was used in addition to the bare sclera technique in 43 eyes with pterygia. The mean follow-up time wa s 18.5 months for the 24 eyes in the postoperative mitomycin-C group, 10.3 months for the 19 eyes in the intraoperative mitomycin-C group, a nd 17.3 months for the 17 eyes in the control group (eyes that had und ergone surgical excision only). RESULTS: The recurrence rate was 4.2% with postoperative administration, 5.3% with intraoperative applicatio n, and 41.2% in the control group. There was a significant reduction i n recurrence rates for both the postoperative and the intraoperative m itomycin-C groups compared with the control group (P = .005 and P = .0 1, respectively). However, recurrence rates were not statistically dif ferent according to the type of application. No serious side effect oc curred during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Topical mitomycin-C ei ther intraoperatively or postoperatively, as an adjunct decreases the recurrence rate of primary pterygium. Intraoperative application seems advantageous because it decreases the symptomatic side effects and re stricts the inappropriate use by the patient.