Radiotherapy of intracerebral metastatic malignant melanoma.

The results of 35 courses of palliative irradiation in 30 patients with intracerebral metastatic malignant melanoma are reviewed. Marked improvement in neurologic status occurred in approximately 35%. Slight to moderate improvement was evident in an additional 35%. Palliative whole-brain irradiation is the treatment of choice for patients with cerebral metastases from malignant melanoma despite the commonly held impression that this tumor is radioinsensitive.