Radiosurgery for Desmoplastic Melanoma of the Head and Neck Using the Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion Technology A Case Report

A 44-year-old male developed chronic cancer pain caused by a progressive desmoplastic melanoma involving the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. The patient had failed local resection, conformal radiation therapy and chemotherapy, but was eligible for stereotactic radiosurgery using a new technology. Intraoperative stereotactic magnetic resonance and computed tomography imaging were fused to define the tumor volume and to create a conformal radiosurgery dose plan. The radiosurgery target volume was 8.6 ml. A marginal dose of 17 Gy at the 50% isodose was prescribed. The entire procedure was performed on an outpatient basis. The Leksell Gamma Knife (R) Perfexion (TM) technology increases the spectrum of treatable pathologies located in the cranial base and head and neck regions. Copyright (c) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel