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Malignant melanoma in childhood
1Pinkus Dermatopathology Laboratory, Monroe, Michigan 48161.
Insights
Childhood malignant melanoma is rare, with only six cases identified over 32 years. Further research is needed to understand its causes and improve diagnosis for pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pediatric Oncology
Background:
- Malignant melanoma in children is exceptionally rare.
- Existing literature lacks comprehensive data on childhood melanoma incidence, clinical presentation, and prognosis.
Observation:
- Six cases of pediatric malignant melanoma were diagnosed over a 32-year period from 850,000 skin biopsy specimens.
- The cases included diverse presentations such as congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, and Spitz nevus features.
Findings:
- The study identified six cases of malignant melanoma in individuals aged 14 years and younger.
- Specific cases involved neurocutaneous melanosis, melanoma in a congenital nevus, superficial spreading melanoma, and nodular melanoma.
Implications:
- The rarity of childhood melanoma necessitates multi-institutional studies for adequate data collection.
- Understanding genetic and environmental factors in adult melanoma may not directly translate to pediatric cases.
- Further investigation is crucial for establishing incidence, variations, and prognosis in childhood melanoma.
Abstract:
Six cases of malignant melanoma in children 14 years of age and younger are reported. The six cases were diagnosed among 850,000 consecutive skin biopsy specimens and consultation slides examined within a 32-year period. This series included an infant born with neurocutaneous melanosis, a child with malignant melanoma developing in a large congenital nevus at the age of 13 years, a superficial spreading malignant melanoma, Clark Level III, in a child with many dysplastic nevi, and three cases with primary nodular malignant melanoma, two of which showed histologic features of Spitz nevus. A review of the literature indicates that malignant melanoma in childhood is rare, and no large series have been investigated. It is not known whether the genetic and the environmental factors incriminated in the development of malignant melanoma in adults play a role in childhood melanomas. Data on the incidence of childhood melanoma in the population, the clinical and the histologic variations, and the prognosis are not adequate. A multiinstitutional study is needed to gather a large enough series to provide this information.