Radiotherapy for mucosal melanomas

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(82)90058-X· OSTI ID:6716901

Harwood, A R; Cummings, B J

Twelve patients who were irradiated for mucosal melanomas of the head and neck and 6 patients irradiated for mucosal melanomas of the vagina and anorectal region are discussed. The PMH results of irradiation of mucosal melanomas of the head and neck are combined with the literature results for this type of melanoma. The complete remission rate locally is 72% (18 of 25 areas treated). Seven of the 18 patients who achieved complete local remission subsequently relapsed locally (9 to 144 months post treatment); 11 are in maintained complete local remission (9 to 54 months). Four died of intercurrent disease without melanoma, 5 are alive and well post irradiation, one recurred regionally and was salvaged surgically and one died of distant metastases without local or regional relapse. Only 1 of 7 patients who failed to respond to irradiation was salvaged with subsequent surgery, the others all died very rapidly following unsuccessful irradiation. Analysis of local control versus fraction size revealed that 6 of 7 patients treated with a fraction size of 400 rad or more achieved complete remission as compared to 5 of 18 treated with a fraction size of 399 rad or less. The results of primary irradiation for mucosal melanomas of the head and neck are compared with the literature on radical surgery, it is concluded that in view of the poor results of radical surgery that large dose per fraction irradiation should be seriously considered as the initial treatment of choice of primary mucosal melanomas of the head and neck. Four patients with vaginal melanomas were treated at the PMH, all achieved complete remission locally, 2 recurred at 18 and 28 months, one is alive and well at 3 years and one died of intercurrent disease at 1 1/2 years.

• Research Organization: Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• OSTI ID: 6716901
• Journal Information: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 8:7; ISSN IOBPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
EVALUATION
FEMALE GENITALS
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
HEAD
INTESTINES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LARGE INTESTINE
MEDICINE
MELANOMAS
MEMBRANES
MUCOUS MEMBRANES
NECK
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
RECTUM
THERAPY