An interesting case of possible abscopal effect in malignant melanoma
DPE Kingsley - The British journal of radiology, 1975 - birpublications.org
DPE Kingsley
The British journal of radiology, 1975•birpublications.orgThe natural history of malignant melanoma is notoriously unpredictable. Although long-term
survival is not uncommon (Cade, 1961), lymph node involvement lowers the five-year
survival rate to about 5 per cent (Ackerman and Del Regato, 1970). It is generally accepted
that radiation has no place in the treatment of metastases (Edwards, 1949; Kunkler and
Rains, 1959) despite occasional reports of temporary tumour regression (Ellis, 1939;
Sandeman, 1966). In these cases the response to irradiation occurred in the treated area …
survival is not uncommon (Cade, 1961), lymph node involvement lowers the five-year
survival rate to about 5 per cent (Ackerman and Del Regato, 1970). It is generally accepted
that radiation has no place in the treatment of metastases (Edwards, 1949; Kunkler and
Rains, 1959) despite occasional reports of temporary tumour regression (Ellis, 1939;
Sandeman, 1966). In these cases the response to irradiation occurred in the treated area …
The natural history of malignant melanoma is notoriously unpredictable. Although long-term survival is not uncommon (Cade, 1961), lymph node involvement lowers the five-year survival rate to about 5 per cent (Ackerman and Del Regato, 1970).
It is generally accepted that radiation has no place in the treatment of metastases (Edwards, 1949; Kunkler and Rains, 1959) despite occasional reports of temporary tumour regression (Ellis, 1939; Sandeman, 1966). In these cases the response to irradiation occurred in the treated area and simultaneous regression of distant untreated metastases has never been reported.
Such behaviour has been given the term “abscopal effect”. It occurs not uncommonly in leukaemia but is extremely rare in other tumours and the case reported below is therefore of interest.
British Institute of Radiology