Malignant melanoma of the vulva: response to radiation

Abstract

Although malignant melanoma of the vulva is a relatively rare malignancy with only about 350 cases reported in the literature, in some series it has accounted for a surprising 8–11% of all invasive cancers of the vulva (Morrow, 1981; Jones, 1988). While surgery has remained the treatment of choice, radiation therapy has received very little attention in the management of vulval melanoma. This is despite the fact that clinical responses have been achieved at other sites using high dose fractionation regimens (Habermalz & Fischer, 1976; Strauss et al, 1981). We report a case of melanoma of the vulva where complete clinical regression of both the primary and nodal disease was observed following intermediate dose fractionation, only to be followed by fatal disseminated metastasis 3 months later.