Conventional fractionated radiotherapy for 51 patients with lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanoma.

Lentigo maligna (LM) and lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) are distinct entities from other forms of melanoma, occurring predominantly on the skin of the head and neck in elderly people, having a slow growth rate and a low metastatic potential (10%). Twenty-three patients with LM were treated with conventional fractionated irradiation, 18 were locally controlled and two failed locally both of whom, however, were salvaged with further treatment. Three patients are not evaluable because of short follow-up time. Median time to complete regression of the lesion is seven months. Twenty-eight patients with LMM have been irradiated, 23 are locally controlled, two locally recurred (both retrieved with subsequent treatment), and three are inevaluable because of short follow-up time. One patient with a level 5 LMM has developed regional and distant metastases. It is concluded that irradiation is a simple effective method of treatment for this form of melanoma.