[Value of radiotherapy in the treatment of malignant melanoma]

Survival curves for human melanoma cells, irradiated with 137Cs gamma-rays, show somewhat less radiosensitivity than Hela cells, as well as a marked recovery after exposure to low individual doses. In clinical practice, high individual doses of 4-8 Gy up to total doses of 45-80 Gy have proved most effective. The retrogression of melanomas takes a longer time than that of other tumours. High-voltage irradiation is indicated after surgery of lymph node metastases as well as (with palliative doses) in case of metastases of bone, brain and skin. Primary melanomas should be irradiated in exceptional cases only, for instance in case of inoperability. In the case of high-risk melanomas, prophylactic irradiation of the regional lymph nodes might be considered.