Intraoperative application of mitomycin C in the surgical treatment of pterygium

Purpose. To investigate the effectiveness of intraoperative mitomycin C in pterygium surgery. Methods. The effectiveness of intraoperatively administered mitomycin C and the occurrence of postoperative complications were evaluated in 17 patients with two recurrences of pterygium. The authors employed the "bare-sclera technique" and placed a sterile sponge soaked in a 0.02% mitomycin C solution intraoperatively in the episcleral space for 3 minutes. The control group (15 patients) underwent only surgical excision. Patients were followed for 21 to 30 months. Results. The pterygium recurred in one (5.9%) of the 17 patients in group 1 and in six (40%) of the 15 controls. Statistical analysis using Fisher's exact test showed a significant (p=0.027) reduction of recurrences of pterygium in the group treated intraoperatively with mitomycin C. No serious complications or side effects arose during the follow-up period. Conclusions. Mitomycin C administered intraoperatively can be considered an effective treatment to improve the success rate after surgical excision.