Analysis of Recurrence Patterns Following Pterygium Surgery With Conjunctival Autografts. Issue 4 (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kwon, Soo Hyun; Kim, Hong Kyun; Johnson., Angela
• Is Part Of: Medicine. Volume 94:Issue 4(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine -- Périodiques; Geneeskunde; Medicine; Periodicals; Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000000518
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-7974

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The aim of this article is to evaluate and classify pathogenetic origins based on morphologic reproliferative patterns in patients who underwent pterygium excision with a conjunctival autograft.</p> <p>In this retrospective, observational case series, a total of 116 eyes of 116 patients with pterygium who underwent pterygium excision with a conjunctival autograft between February 2009 and May 2011 were reviewed. Using consecutively recorded photographs, we evaluated preoperative morphologic severity, postoperative complications, recurrences, and growth patterns.</p> <p>The regrowth of fibrovascular tissue was observed in 14 of our study cases (12.1%). Of these, 5 cases (4.3%) showed clinically significant recurrences. We observed 3 different morphologic patterns of recurrence: regrowth over the epithelial defect; transformation of the conjunctival graft into the pterygial tissue; and regrowth from unexcised pterygial tissue. Each recurrence pattern showed characteristic fibrovascular growth, the origin of this regrowth, and grade of severity. In 25 cases (21.6%), postoperative complications were observed. Of the analyzed variables, age <40 years (<italic>P</italic> = 0.019; odds ratio [OR], 5.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34–25.28) and the presence of postoperative complications (<italic>P</italic> = 0.008; OR, 6.32; 95% CI, 1.62–24.58) were statistically significant in multivariate analyses using logistic regression.</p> <p>The use of conjunctival autografts for pterygium surgery is effective, but recurrences are observed in some cases exhibiting unique pathogenic patterns according to their origin. A complete understanding of the pathogenesis of these lesions based on their morphologic regrowth pattern will help to prevent recurrences in patients who undergo pterygium surgery.</p> </sec> </abstract>