Cutaneous malignant melanoma in young adults under age 30

Epidemiologic and clinicopathologic features of malignant melanoma in 129 patients (44 males, 85 females) aged < or = 30 years between 1961 and 1992 were investigated. The number of new young melanoma patients (29 of 216 during the 1960's) declined to 52 of 676 during the 1980's. Predominant sites were legs among females, and head, neck and back among males. Nodular type lesions (56.6%) outnumbered superficial spreading tumors (38.8%). Thirty-one patients (24%) died of melanoma (median survival 2.9 years), with higher male mortality. A decrease in mortality rate was observed over the decades. The relationship between various parameters was analyzed. Nodular lesions were smaller and thicker than superficial spreading lesions, occurred more frequently in males, and carried a worse prognosis (34% mortality) than superficial spreading type tumors (14%); mortality rate was higher for thick (>4 mm) and for large tumor volumes (>300 mm3) vs. thin and small sized lesions, respectively (P = 0.000 for each). Average tumor thickness and volume declined throughout the last three decades. From the data obtained, a typical profile of a young melanoma patient is drawn.