The treatment of primary acquired melanosis (PAM) with atypia by topical Mitomycin C

Abstract

Purpose: To report our results of 12 consecutive patients with conjunctival primary acquired melanosis (PAM) with atypia who were treated by topical Mitomycin C (MMC).

Design: Retrospective interventional consecutive case series.

Methods: Twelve patients with PAM with atypia in one of their eyes who were treated by topical chemotherapy with MMC were included in this case study. Eyes with histologically proven PAM with atypia were treated by two to five courses of 0.04% (0.4 mg/ml) MMC four times a day. Each course lasted 2 continuous weeks. Follow-up was conducted on patients for control of local disease, side effects, and visual acuity in the treated eye.

Results: In all patients, there was complete or partial response to treatment. In four patients, the pigmentation disappeared, whereas in eight patients, some remnants of the pigmentation remained. In seven of these eight patients, the remnants of the pigmentation were stable during the follow-up period of 4 months to 9 years, whereas one in whom re-growth of the PAM was noticed was successfully treated again by topical MMC. No patients lost visual acuity at the end of the follow-up. All side effects of the local chemotherapy were resolved after cessation of the treatment.

Conclusions: Topical MMC chemotherapy is a good alternative to surgical excision and cryotherapy in treating conjunctival PAM with atypia.