Radiotherapy for Melanoma with Perineural Invasion: University of Florida Experience

Abstract

Purpose: Outcomes after adjuvant radiotherapy for cutaneous melanoma with perineural invasion (PNI).

Methods: Seven patients (5 cutaneous, 2 recurrent nerve lesions) received radiotherapy.

Results: At a median 4.5 years: Two patients did not recur; no local failures occurred. Three patients who omitted nodal irradiation developed regional failures (2 out-of-field, 1 in-field). Three patients developed distant metastases. Four died with disease (median, 3.6 years); 1 died from intercurrent disease (13.0 years). Two are alive without disease (6.8 and 11.6 years). No patient experienced grade ≥3 toxicity.

Conclusions: Postoperative radiotherapy can reduce local recurrences; primary radiotherapy for unresectable disease is recommended.

Keywords:

• Radiation oncology
• cutaneous melanoma
• perineural invasion

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.