Creating a stable tympanic membrane perforation using mitomycin C

O'REILLY, ROBERT C. MD
GOLDMAN, STEVEN A. MD
WIDNER, SHERI A. MA
CASS, STEPHEN P. MD, MPH

Broomall and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Denver, Colorado
In private practice, Broomall, PA (Dr O'Reilly); from the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh (Dr Goldman), and Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine (Drs Widner and Cass).

Reprint requests: Stephen P. Cass, MD, MPH, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 4200 E. 9th Ave, Box B-205, Denver, CO 80262; e-mail, [email protected]

0194-5998/2001/$35.00 + 0 23/1/112199

doi:10.1067/mhn.2001.112199

Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery 124(1):p 40-45, January 2001.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the ability of topically applied mitomycin C to create a stable tympanic membrane perforation.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING:

Twenty-four rats underwent subtotal removal of the tympanic membranes bilaterally. Forty ears received 0.2 mg/ml of mitomycin C. The remaining 8 received phosphate-buffered saline solution (control). Photographs taken every 3 to 5 days for 44 days were digitally scanned and computer analyzed to calculate the percentage of residual perforation. Application of solutions, photography, and data analysis were performed in a blinded fashion.

RESULTS:

The mitomycin C treated ears had delayed closure time and healing rate (from day 0 to 25) compared to the control group. All controls healed by day 14. By day 44, 92.5% of the mitomycin C treated ears healed.

CONCLUSION:

Mitomycin C prolongs the closure and healing rate of myringotomies in rat tympanic membranes.

SIGNIFICANCE:

Myringotomy with concurrent mitomycin C application may be useful for creating an animal model for chronic tympanic membrane perforation and should be tested in human beings as a method to maintain myringotomy patency for long-term ventilation. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001;124:40-5)