Postoperative topical mitomycin C in conjunctival squamous cell neoplasia

Purpose. To report the efficacy of topical mitomycin C in preventing local recurrences after incomplete surgical excision of conjunctival squamous cel l neoplasia. Methods. Four patients presented with unilateral conjunctival tumors. Excisional biopsy results revealed conjunctival intraepithelial neo plasia with an intact basement membrane. Neoplastic cells were present in a t least one of the surgical borders of the excised conjunctiva in all four cases. Patients were treated with topical mitomycin C 0.02% three times dai ly for 2 weeks to prevent recurrences. Results. All four patients were free of clinically detectable tumors after a mean follow-up period of 20 months (range, 16-23 months). Side effects included mild discomfort, redness, pho tophobia, and punctate epithelial keratopathy that subsided on discontinuat ion of the medication. Conclusion. Postoperative topical mitomycin C applic ation may be a useful adjunct to prevent recurrences in patients with incom pletely excised conjunctival squamous cell neoplasia.