Fractionated radiotherapy of lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanoma in 64 patients

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 43; no. 3; pp. 477 - 482
• Main Authors: Schmid-Wendtner, M.H., Brunner, B., Konz, B., Kaudewitz, P., Wendtner, C.M., Peter, R.U., Plewig, G., Volkenandt, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.09.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatology; Dose Fractionation; Female; Humans; Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle - pathology; Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle - radiotherapy; Male; Medical sciences; Melanoma - pathology; Melanoma - radiotherapy; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Skin Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Treatment Outcome; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; Human; Lentigo maligna; Skin disease; Treatment; Malignant melanoma; Tumor; Malignant tumor; Radiotherapy
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1067/mjd.2000.106241

Between 1987 and 1998, 64 patients with lentigo maligna (LM) (n = 42) or lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) (n = 22) were treated by fractionated radiotherapy. In all 22 patients with LMM, excision of the nodular part of the LMM was performed before radiation of the residual lentiginous tumor. During the follow-up period of 1 to 96 months (mean, 23 months; median, 15 months), none of the 42 patients with LM displayed any signs of recurrence of LM after radiation therapy alone. Of the 22 patients with LMM, only 2 patients showed local recurrence of the tumor, salvaged by excision in both cases. One patient with LMM suffered from metastatic disease without local recurrence of the melanoma 44 months after radiation therapy. The cosmetic results of radiotherapy were good or excellent in the vast majority of patients, with only a few experiencing hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation in the irradiated area. Fractionated radiation therapy with superficial x-rays is an effective method of treatment of LM associated with low morbidity and leading to clinical results comparable to those of surgical excision. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;43:477–82.)