[Effects of using mitomycin-C in treatment of benign esophageal strictures]

ABSTRACT

Using bouginage or balloon dilatation is the standard treatment for benign esophageal strictures. About two-thirds need repeated dilatations. For preventing recurrent strictures, many medications such as mitomycin-C have been used. Mitomycin-C is a special antibiotic with anti-neoplastic characteristics, which inhibits fibroblast proliferation, reduces collagen production and decreases scar formation. In this study, 12 patients with benign esophageal stricture during Azar 1386 to Bahman 1387 in Imam Khomeini Endoscopy Department were included. Esophageal endoscopy was done and mitomycin-C was applied on the place of stricture using a cotton ball. Then, response to treatment was categorized in three groups of complete response, partial response and non-response to treatment. Average number of using mitomycin-C was 4 +/- 3 times. Mean interval between endoscopies before using mitomycin-C was 3.5 +/- 1 weeks and after using this agent was 8.5 +/- 4.3 weeks. There were 4 cases of complete response, 5 cases of partial response and 3 patients of non-response. Conservative treatments in management of benign esophageal strictures are preferred to more invasive treatments. However, it seems using a topical solution of mitomycin-C carries better responses and reduces the rate of recurrent dilatations