[Intensive preoperative electron therapy in the combined treatment of melanoma of the skin].

The authors presented 5-year results of combined therapy of malignant skin melanoma in 120 patients; of them 75 had primary skin melanoma, 45 recurrences in the scar, melanoma metastases to the skin, lymph nodes and soft tissues after inadequate treatment of primary melanoma. Preoperative intensive large fractionated radiotherapy with energy regulated fast electrons was used. In the group of patients with primary melanomas, the general 5-year survival was 73.3%, for Stage T1N0M0 93.8%, in the group of patients with secondary signs of melanoma 34.8%. This method of melanoma treatment made it possible to improve 5-year results, to reduce the time of treatment, to prevent the development of local recurrences; it did not cause radiation injuries.