Malignant melanoma in childhood.
Only two cases of malignant melanoma in childhood have previously been reported in this Journal (Olbourne and Harrison, 1974; Keall et al., 1981). The report describing 31 cases in the Manchester area (Pratt et al., 1981) indicates that this condition may be more common in this country than previously supposed. A case of malignant melanoma arising in a mole in a 23 month male child is reported. A review of the literature shows that there are no survival figures for cases without metastasis but at present there is no reason to suspect that the disease is any less aggressive than in adults. It cannot be stressed too often that any mole with rapid growth, ulceration, bleeding with minimal trauma and change in colour should be biopsied urgently irrespective of the age of the patient.
D002610:Cheek; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*