Iara R.T. Drakensjö, Einar Rosen, Margareta Frohm Nilsson, Ada Girnita
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-3631

Radiotherapy is often used to treat lentigo maligna. However, the long-term efficacy and safety of radiotherapy approaches have not been thoroughly evaluated. We aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of ultrasoft X-ray/Grenz ray treatment in those patients. A total of 161 lesions from 159 patients received treatment with Grenz ray between 2005 and 2007. Follow-up of recurrence was performed 10 years after the final treatment. In the study setting, the cure rates were 97% for primary therapy with Grenz ray alone and 100% when Grenz ray was combined with partial or radical excision. The treatment is well tolerated, simple to perform, and has an excellent cosmetic outcome, with 94% of patients pleased with the results. Grenz ray is painless, effective, and safe for use when surgery is not feasible. Thus, Grenz ray can be considered as a standard treatment option for lentigo maligna.

Radiotherapy with ultrasoft X-ray/Grenz ray is used to treat lentigo maligna melanoma, but the long-term efficacy and safety of this treatment has not been evaluated. This study assessed 161 lesions treated between 2005 and 2007. After 10–12 years of treatment, the treated areas were examined for recurrence. In the study setting, the cure rate achieved in primary therapy was 97% and increased to 100% when combined with partial or radical excision. The treatment is effective, and safe for use when surgery is not feasible, and has an excellent cosmetically outcome. As such, it should be considered as a standard treatment option for lentigo maligna melanoma.