title: Palliative radiotherapy for Japanese patients with malignant melanoma: a single-institution experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to clarify the significance of palliative radiotherapy for Japanese patients with malignant melanoma based on the experience of our institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine patients with malignant melanoma who underwent palliative radiotherapy at our facility were included in the investigation. Median radiation dose was 30 Gy (4-30).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median follow-up time was 4.2 months (range 2.7-40.5 months). Twenty-two patient (75.9%) died during the follow-up. The response rate of overall symptoms to radiotherapy was 63.0%. The rate of completely resolved hemorrhage was relatively high (81.8%). The median time of freedom from progression in completely resolved symptoms was 3.1 months (range 0.2-27.8 months). Radiation dose <30 Gy and poor performance status tended to be associated with poor symptomatic relief in treatment site (p = .080 and p = .068, respectively). There were very few severe toxic events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two thirds of symptoms were safely alleviated by palliative radiotherapy for Japanese patients with malignant melanoma. The therapeutic effect was retained for a substantial duration. Further domestic studies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shinshu University, School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan. kkoiwai@shinshu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Keiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koiwai
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shinshu University, School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shinshu University, School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan.
authors.forename: Eriko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yoshizawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shinshu University, School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan.
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ina
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shinshu University, School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayumu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fukazawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shinshu University, School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shinshu University, School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan.
authors.forename: Takesumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shinshu University, School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirohide
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shinshu University, School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan.
authors.forename: Masumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kadoya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Malignant melanoma; Palliative radiotherapy; Radiation dose