The role of mitomycin in the prevention and treatment of scar formation in the pediatric aerodigestive tract: friend or foe?

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the role of mitomycin in the prevention and treatment of scar formation in the pediatric aerodigestive tract.

Design: Prospective study; institutional review board-approved clinical trial.

Setting: Tertiary care pediatric medical center.

Patients: Fifteen patients; choanal atresia in 5 patients, airway stenosis in 8 patients, hypopharyngeal stenosis in 1 patient, and esophageal stenosis in 1 patient.

Outcome: The efficacy and safety of mitomycin in the prevention of scar formation.

Intervention: All patients underwent surgical repair of the stenotic area, followed by topical application of mitomycin (1 mL of 0.4 mg/mL) for 4 minutes.

Results: Ten patients (67%) showed major improvement, 4 patients (27%) showed minor improvement, and 1 patient (7%) showed no improvement.

Conclusion: Topical application of mitomycin can play an effective role in the prevention and treatment of scar formation in the aerodigestive tract.