Abstract
Background Primary head and neck mucosal melanomas (HNMMs) are rare tumors managed with surgery and/or radiotherapy and associated with poor outcomes. Given their radioresistance, high linear energy transfer radiotherapy with neutrons may improve local control. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 14 patients with HNMM treated with neutrons at the University of Washington from 1990 to 2012. Five patients had T3 disease, 9 had T4 disease, 3 had regional nodal disease, and 4 had distant metastases at diagnosis. Primary sites were sinonasal (n=10), lip (n=2), and palate (n=2). Ten patients had initial surgical resection/debulking. Results Nine patients had gross residual disease, 6 had complete response, and 3 had partial response. Local control was achieved in 79% until death or last follow-up, and 50% developed distant metastases. Kaplan-Meier 5-year local control was 66% and overall survival was 21%. Conclusion High rates of locoregional control were achieved with neutrons, despite the presence of gross disease. Survival was limited by early distant metastases. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 1162-1167, 2014
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1162-1167 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Head and Neck |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- fast neutrons
- head and neck neoplasms
- mucosal melanoma
- radiotherapy
- sinonasal
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Otorhinolaryngology