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Adjuvant Radiotherapy for Cutaneous Melanoma

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Radiation Therapy for Skin Cancer

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Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the efficacy of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) in the treatment of melanoma. The risk of local-regional recurrence after surgery alone for locally advanced melanoma is relatively high. The risk is usually related to metastatic regional nodes and, occasionally, to unfavorable findings at the primary site, such as in-transit metastases. The likelihood of a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) exceeds 20 % for melanomas >2 mm thick and 20 % or more of patients with a positive SLNB will have residual positive nodes on completion node dissection. Patients with positive regional nodes have approximately a 20 % or higher risk of regional relapse after surgery alone, particularly if multiple nodes are involved and/or extracapsular extension is present. Postoperative adjuvant RT results in local-regional control rates of 85–90 % or higher in high-risk patients with a modest risk of complications. The impact of adjuvant RT on survival is likely minimal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 2000 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA

    William M. Mendenhall

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  1. William M. Mendenhall
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Correspondence to William M. Mendenhall .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Florida State University College of Medi, Division of Dermatology, Dermatology Associates of Tallahassee, Riggins Road 1707, Tallahassee, 32308, Florida, USA

    Armand B. Cognetta Jr.

  2. College of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida, 2000 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, 32610, Florida, USA

    William M. Mendenhall

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Mendenhall, W.M. (2013). Adjuvant Radiotherapy for Cutaneous Melanoma. In: Cognetta Jr., A., Mendenhall, W. (eds) Radiation Therapy for Skin Cancer. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6986-5_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6986-5_19

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