Fast neutron radiotherapy for primary mucosal melanomas of the head and neck. Issue 8 (17th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liao, Jay J.; Parvathaneni, Upendra; Laramore, George E.; Thompson, John A.; Bhatia, Shailender; Futran, Neal D.; Bhrany, Amit D.; Hawes, Stephen E.; Ladra, Matthew
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 36:Issue 8(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 1162
• Page End: 1167
• Publication Date: 2014-01-17
• Subjects: Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.23428
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="hed23428-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="hed23428-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>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 (<italic>n</italic>=10), lip (<italic>n</italic>=2), and palate (<italic>n</italic>=2). Ten patients had initial surgical resection/debulking.</p> </sec> <sec id="hed23428-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>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%.</p> </sec> <sec id="hed23428-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>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. <italic>Head Neck</italic> 36: 1162–1167, 2014</p> </sec> </abstract>