title: Mucosal malignant melanoma of the head and neck treated by carbon ion radiotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of carbon ion radiotherapy for mucosal malignant melanoma of the head and neck.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1994 and 2004, 72 patients with mucosal malignant melanoma of the head and neck were treated with carbon ion beams in three prospective studies. Total dose ranged from 52.8 GyE to 64 GyE given in 16 fixed fractions over 4 weeks. Clinical parameters including gender, age, Karnofsky index, tumor site, tumor volume, tumor status, total dose, fraction size, and treatment time were evaluated in relation to local control and overall survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up period was 49.2 months (range, 16.8-108.5 months). Treatment toxicity was within acceptable limits, and no patients showed Grade 3 or higher toxicity in the late phase. The 5-year local control rate was 84.1%. In relation to local control, there were no significant differences in any parameters evaluated. The 5-year overall and cause-specific survival rates were 27.0% and 39.6%, respectively. For overall survival, however, tumor volume (>/=100 mL) was found to be the most significant prognostic parameter. Of the patients who developed distant metastasis, 85% were free from local recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carbon ion radiotherapy is a safe and effective treatment for mucosal malignant melanoma of the head and neck in terms of high local control and acceptable toxicities. Overall survival rate was better than in those treated with conventional radiotherapy and was comparable to that with surgery.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Research Center Hospital for Charged Particle Therapy, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanagi
authors.forename: Jun-Etsu
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mizoe
authors.forename: Azusa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bessho
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Onda
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamada
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Hirohiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsujii
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015996:Survival Rate; D047368:Tumor Burden
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes