Superficial hyperthermia combined with hypofractionated radiotherapy of malignant melanoma metastases to skin and lymph nodes

Aim: The evaluation of combined
radiohyperthermia in the treatment of
skin and lymph nodes malignant
melanoma metastases.

Material and method:
Material comprises
10 skin and 11 lymph nodes melanoma
metastases (13 patients) treated with
combined superficial hyperthermia and
irradiation. The tumor diameter before
the treatment varied from 0.5 to 7 cm
(mean 2.9). All patients were treated
using three 1 hour hyperthermia sessions
and three 9 Gy radiation doses delivered
within 8 days. The follow up period varied
from 1 to 18 months (mean 4.6). Patients
were examined on the day of treatment
completion, 2 and 6 weeks later and next
every three months. The skin reaction and
tumor regression were evaluated. Impact
of different biological factors for skin
reaction and treatment result were
checked.

Results:
The most frequent skin reaction
was erythrema (51% of cases on the
day of treatment end) and blisters (19%
of cases 6 weeks after the treatment).
Means of tumor diameter 0.5, 1.5,
and 4.5 months after the treatment
were 2.3, 2.3 and 2.4 cm, respectively.
The biggest percentage of complete
regressions was observed 1.5 and 4.5
months after the treatment, 33.5%
and 43%, respectively. Significant
dependencies between skin reaction
2 weeks after the treatment and red
blood cells count in this time and before
the treatment were found.

Conclusion:
The combined radiohyperthermia is safe and effective treatment
modality of superficial melanoma
metastases and could be an alternative
for palliative surgery.