Mitomycin-autograft combination results in low pterygium recurrence

Low-dose mitomycin-C in combination with free conjunctival autograft and pterygium excision resulted in a low incidence of pterygium recurrence in a prospective study.

Fani Segev, MD and colleagues at Tel-Aviv (Israel) University, conducted the study, which included 50 eyes of 46 consecutive patients with a mean age of 53.4 years (range 23 to 80 years). Primary pterygium was diagnosed in 43 eyes and recurrent pterygium in 7.

Following pterygium excision, a solution of 0.02% mitomycin was applied for 2 minutes, followed by free conjunctival autograft.

Mean follow-up was 29.2 months (range 12 to 41 months). According to the study, in one eye (2%) pterygium recurred to a small extent (0.5 mm).

The authors noted no sight-threatening complications or serious side effects. In five eyes (10%), subconjunctival graft hematoma appeared and resolved spontaneously. One eye also developed transient high IOP without optic nerve or visual field defect, and one eye developed mild symblepharon.

The study is published in the journal Cornea.