Radiation therapy for brain metastases from malignant melanoma

Abstract

Thirty-nine patients who completed whole-brain irradition treatment for brain metastases from malignant melanoma were analyzed. Median survival was 2 months, mean survival 4 months. Only 3 patients survived for 1 year, the longest survival being 19 months after irradiation. Twenty-one (53.8% showed marked clinical improvement and 6 (40% of the 15 evaluable patients had some objective regression of the brain metastases. A treatment of 7 fractions of 4.8 Gy in 9 to 14 days and concomitant chemotherapy with dacarbazine and lomustine in 16 patients was well tolerated. This seems to be a beneficial treatment for patients with a comparatively small intracranial tumour burden. ©1984 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.