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

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.