Recurrence rate of pterygium following surgical excision with intraoperative versus postoperative mitomycin-C

ABSTRACT

To compare the rate of recurrence and complications of pterygium following surgical excision by applying 0.02% mitomycin-C intraoperatively or using topical 0.02% mitomycin-C drops postoperatively. Randomized clinical trial. Baqai Medical University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, from January 2001 to July 2005. Eighty-four eyes of 65 patients, aged between 20-70 years, with primary pterygium were randomly allocated into two groups using random tables. Patients with bilateral disease were treated with an interval of 10-14 days and randomized separately. In group-I, 0.02% mitomycin-C was applied intraoperatively for 3 minutes after pterygium excision. Group-II received mitomycin-C 0.02% eye drops twice a day for 2 weeks after pterygium excision. Patients were followed-up for pterygium recurrence for one year. Variables were compared for significance, using Pearson chi-square test. In Group I, recurrence of pterygium was seen in 4 [10.0%] eyes and superficial punctate keratitis in 4 [9.5%] eyes, while 8 [19.0%] eyes developed avascularization of sclera at the pterygium excision site. In group II, 8 [20.51%] eyes had pterygium recurrence [p=0.38], 13 [31.0%] eyes had superficial punctate keratitis and tenon cyst was seen in one [2.4%] eye. One [2.4%] eye in each group developed scleral thinning. There was no significant difference in pterygium recurrence rate intraoperatively or postoperative application of 0.02% mitomycin-C. Complications were comparatively less following application of intraoperative 0.02% mitomycin-C for 3 minutes