Malignant melanoma in children

Abstract

Two cases of malignant melanoma with metastases in children are reported, (boy—2 years; girl—11 years). From these 2 cases and from 43 previously reported cases in the literature it appears that the disease is at least as aggressive in children as in adults. The 3‐year survival rate in children compares with the 5‐year survival rate in adults at a similar stage in the disease. Special attention is drawn to the relatively high likelihood of malignant melanomas arising in pre‐existing nevus pigmentosus giganticus and the poor prognosis in these cases, probably due to difficult and hence late diagnosis.

Malignant melanoma in Jamaica

“…Melanoma in infancy is a clinical curiosity. Transplacental transfer of melanoma from mother to foetus has been reviewed by Skov-Jensen, Hastrup & Lambrethsen (1966). There is no evidence that such was the case here.…”

Melanoma in Children

“…13 Detecting the latter at an early stage is difficult because malignant transformation commonly evolves in the deeper components of a congenital nevus, and surface alterations are a late manifestation.…”

The nature of melanoma. A critical review

“…Even though Sophie Spitz distinguished the so-called juvenile melanoma (Spitz nevus) from true melanoma in 1948, diffieulties in diagnosis of lesions in children are still encountered. Because of this, Skov-Jensen et al (1966) confined their study of prepuberal melanoma to patients in clinical Stages II and 111. They collected 43 authentic eases from the literature and came to the conclusion that 3-year survival in children was the equivalent of 5-year survival in adults.…”