EFFECTIVENESS OF INTRAOPERATIVE MITOMYCIN-C IN THE TREATMENT OF RECURRENT PTERYGIUM

The effectiveness of intraoperative administration of mitomycin C and the occurrence of postoperative complications have been evaluated in 3 0 white patients with one recurrence of pterygium. The authors employe d the 'bare-sclera technique' and, intraoperatively, placed in the epi scleral space for 3 min a sterile sponge soaked in a 4% mitomycin C so lution. The control group (30 patients with one recurrent pterygium) u nderwent only surgical excision. Statistical analysis performed using the chi-square test showed a significant (p=0.024) reduction of recurr ences of pterygium in the group treated intraoperatively with mitomyci n C. No heavy side effects occurred during the follow-up period. Mitom ycin C, administered intraoperatively, may be considered an effective treatment to improve the success rate after surgical excision.