Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Effect of mitomycin C on the size of antrostomy after endoscopic sinus surgery
Seon-Tae Kim1, Il-Gyu Gang, Heung-Eog Cha
1Department of Otolaryngology, Gil Medical Center, Gachon Medical School, Incheon City, South Korea.
Objectives:
Mitomycin C (MMC) is an antibiotic-antineoplastic agent that decreases fibroblast proliferation and scar formation. We aimed to evaluate the effect of MMC on the size of antrostomy and the mucociliary clearance rate.
Methods:
We selected 20 patients with chronic sinusitis on both sides. After middle meatal antrostomy, we selected one side, and a piece of Merocel soaked with 1.5 mL of MMC (0.4 mg/mL) was applied for 5 minutes. On the other side, normal saline solution was applied for a control. The size of the antrostomy was measured serially after surgery with a ruler. Mucociliary clearance was assessed by the saccharin test.
Results:
The effect of MMC in maintaining the size of the antrostomy was only significant during the first month. The relative size (the ratio of the remaining antrostomy area compared to the area in the immediate postoperative period) in the first month was significantly greater on the MMC-treated side than on the control side. The results of the saccharin test were not different between the two sides.
Conclusions:
Topical MMC application may have a short-term effect in maintaining the patency of the antrostomy site. However, it does not seem to improve the relative size over an extended period of time.
