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

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.