Interferon α 2b treatment for residual ocular surface squamous neoplasia unresponsive to excision, cryotherapy and mitomycin‐C

Abstract

Three patients had residual or recurrent tumour following excision of large ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) lesions, which did not resolve despite the use of adjunctive cryotherapy and topical mitomycin-C therapy. The residual tumour was treated with topical or subconjunctival injectable interferon alpha 2b. All three eyes had complete resolution of the OSSN lesions after an average of 6 weeks (range 4-8 weeks) of treatment with interferon alpha 2b. No regrowth was seen during the follow-up period of 22.7 +/- 32.3 months (range 5-60 months). No adverse reactions or complaints were reported during and following interferon use, and previous symptoms from mitomycin-C treatment resolved completely. In these patients subconjunctival or topical interferon was an effective and safe treatment for residual OSSN. Longer follow up is required to confirm the long-term efficacy in prevention of recurrences.