Postoperative topical mitomycin C in conjunctival squamous cell neoplasia

Purpose. To report the efficacy of topical mitomycin C in preventing local recurrences after incomplete surgical excision of conjunctival squamous cell neoplasia. Methods. Four patients presented with unilateral conjunctival tumors. Excisional biopsy results revealed conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia with an intact basement membrane. Neoplastic cells were present in at least one of the surgical borders of the excised conjunctiva in all four cases. Patients were treated with topical mitomycin C 0.02% three times daily for 2 weeks to prevent recurrences. Results. All four patients were free of clinically detectable tumors after a mean follow-up period of 20 months (range, 16-23 months). Side effects included mild discomfort, redness, photophobia, and punctate epithelial keratopathy that subsided on discontinuation of the medication. Conclusion. Postoperative topical mitomycin C application may be a useful adjunct to prevent recurrences in patients with incompletely excised conjunctival squamous cell neoplasia.