Melanomas in children and adolescents: Clinicopathologic features and survival outcomes

Mary Ann El Sharouni, Robert V. Rawson, Alison J. Potter, Elizabeth C. Paver, James S. Wilmott, Arjen J. Witkamp, Vigfús Sigurdsson, Paul J. van Diest, Richard A. Scolyer, John F. Thompson*, Serigne N. Lo, Carla H. van Gils

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Melanomas in the first 2 decades of life are uncommon and poorly understood. Objective: To assess clinicopathologic features and survival of children (≤11 years) and adolescents (12-19 years) diagnosed with melanoma. Methods: A pooled cohort of 514 patients was analyzed (397 Dutch, 117 Australian; 62 children, 452 adolescents). Pathology reports were reevaluated to determine melanoma subtypes. Multivariable Cox models were generated for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Melanoma subtypes were conventional melanoma (superficial spreading, nodular, desmoplastic, and acral lentiginous), spitzoid melanoma, and melanoma associated with a congenital nevus in 428, 78, and 8 patients, respectively. Ten-year RFS was 91.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 82.4%-100%) in children and 86.4% (95% CI, 82.7%-90.3%) in adolescents (P =.32). Ten-year OS was 100% in children and 92.7% (95% CI, 89.8%-95.8%) in adolescents (P =.09). On multivariable analysis possible only for the adolescent cohort due to the small number of children, ulceration status, and anatomic site were associated with RFS and OS, whereas age, sex, mitotic index, sentinel node status and melanoma subtype were not. Breslow thickness >4 mm was associated with worse RFS. Limitations: Retrospective study. Conclusions: Survival rates for children and adolescents with melanomas were high. Ulceration, head or neck location and Breslow thickness >4 mm predicted worse survival in adolescents.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)609-616
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume88
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2023

Keywords

  • adolescence
  • age
  • children
  • melanoma
  • survival

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