title: Contribution of radiotherapy to the management of malignant melanoma. A ten year experience at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago.
abstract: Fraction size in radiotherapy of malignant melanoma remains a point of controversy. Among 139 patients treated at the University of Illinois Hospital in 1979-1988, 36 were considered potentially curable (not counting ocular melanomas); 20 were treated by the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) hypofractionated schedule using 800 cGy per fraction and achieved a permanency of local control lasting > 6 months since the beginning of radiotherapy in 10/22 (45.5%) courses. Comparable results were obtained in 11 patients treated by standard fractionation to at least threshold curative levels. A modification of PMH regimen in 5 patients (but with 13 courses) by decreasing fraction size to 400 cGy while keeping total dose and course duration unchanged, resulted in a 100% loss of focal control within 6 months. Patients considered incurable and irradiated by PMH schedule responded in 83% of courses compared to 51.4% response rate in patients irradiated with other schedules (except modified PMH regimen). Other aspects of melanoma management are analyzed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago 60612.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dvorák
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Liebner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003606:Dacarbazine