Role of radiation therapy in cutaneous melanoma. Clin Plast Surg 2010 Jan;37(1):147-60
Date
11/17/2009Pubmed ID
19914465DOI
10.1016/j.cps.2009.07.007Scopus ID
2-s2.0-70449432830 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 7 CitationsAbstract
Cutaneous melanoma is a disease that often has an aggressive and unpredictable course. It was historically thought to be a radioresistant neoplasm; however, substantial radiobiologic and clinical evidence has emerged to refute this notion. Improved local control has been demonstrated with the use of adjuvant radiation therapy delivered to the primary site or regional lymphatics in patients with high-risk clinical or pathologic features. Despite improved local control, high-risk cutaneous melanoma often spreads systemically, leading to poor survival. In the setting of systemic progression, radiation therapy can frequently palliate symptomatic sites of metastatic disease.
Author List
Shuff JH, Siker ML, Daly MD, Schultz CJAuthors
Christopher J. Schultz MD Chair, Professor in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of WisconsinMalika L. Siker MD Associate Dean, Associate Professor in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Antineoplastic AgentsCombined Modality Therapy
Humans
Interferon-alpha
Lymphatic Metastasis
Melanoma
Palliative Care
Radiation Injuries
Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
Recombinant Proteins
Skin Neoplasms