The Efficacy of Mitomycin C in the Treatment of Laryngotracheal Stenosis: Results and Experiences with a Difficult Disease Entity

Background/Aims: Laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) is a difficult entity to treat, with many patients requiring multiple procedures. Our study assessed the efficacy of mitomycin C (MMC) application as complimentary treatment of LTS. Methods: We reviewed clinical charts of patients with operative procedures for LTS between January 2005 and May 2013. Patients were grouped according to mitomycin use. Several outcome measures were assessed, including the number of procedures and time between procedures. Results: Seventy-one patients were included in the study (30 MMC, 41 non-MMC). They underwent similar numbers of procedures (2.3 MMC, 2.0 non-MMC, p > 0.05). The average time between procedures was 360 (MMC) and 178 (non-MMC) days (p = 0.015). Multiple treatments with mitomycin increased the duration between procedures (366 vs. 340 days, multiple vs. single application, p > 0.05). Fewer mitomycin patients underwent procedures for respiratory distress than non-MMC patients (6.6 vs. 19.5%, p > 0.05). Mitomycin use increased the duration between procedures in patients treated specifically for subglottic stenosis (375 vs. 186 days, p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our results and experiences with mitomycin demonstrate it is an effective agent for adjuvant treatment of LTS. Its use lengthens the symptom-free period, with further improvement demonstrated when patients expected to undergo multiple surgeries receive multiple mitomycin treatments.