[Malignant melanoma in the child--2 case reports]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Dermatology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Malignant melanoma in infants is exceptionally rare and often presents at advanced stages.
• Congenital moles progressing to metastatic disease in infants are associated with poor prognoses.
• Limited data exists on effective treatments for pediatric melanoma, with adult protocols often showing poor efficacy and significant toxicity.

Observation:

• Two infant cases of malignant melanoma originating from congenital moles with lymph node metastasis are detailed.
• Initial treatment involved surgical excision for both patients.
• One patient received high-dose recombinant alpha-2-interferon plus an H2-receptor antagonist post-surgery, while the other had surgery alone.

Findings:

• Both treatment approaches resulted in complete remission for both patients, sustained for over 18 and 32 months.
• The patient treated with interferon experienced transient neurological side effects (spastic paraparesis) that resolved completely upon drug cessation.
• Conventional therapies like chemotherapy, BCG immunotherapy, and irradiation were deemed ineffective and toxic based on existing literature.

Implications:

• Aggressive pediatric melanoma may respond to multimodal therapy, including surgery and immunotherapy.
• High-dose interferon, while potentially effective, carries risks of neurological adverse events in children.
• Further research is warranted to establish optimal, safe treatment protocols for infant malignant melanoma.