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MMC helpful as an adjunctive therapy for conjunctival carcinoma
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BUENOS AIRES — Using mitomycin-C as an adjunct to excision of conjunctival carcinoma can help maintain clear corneas, a surgeon said here.
At the Argentinean Society of Ophthalmology Annual Course, Dr. Astor Grumann Jr. anecdotally discussed his success with this treatment.
"Use of adjuvant mitomycin seems a good therapeutic option in dealing with conjunctival carcinomas," he said, noting that larger, controlled studies are needed.
Dr. Grumann discussed squamous cell carcinoma and spinocellular conjunctival carcinoma, showing that traditional treatment involves excision of the carcinoma. But he said excision has a high recurrence rate at 33%.
MMC has been used pre-, intra- and postoperatively, Dr. Grumman said, and he spoke to its success postoperatively. After excision of the carcinoma, he uses MMC 0.04% for three cycles of four times a day for 1 week each with a non-treatment week between cycles.
Dr. Grumann showed a patient with a clear cornea after 1 week of treatment.
Side effects of MMC include superficial keratitis, conjunctival hyperemia, tearing, stenosis of the lacrimal ducts, destruction of stem cells and loss of endothelial cells, he said.