title: Melanoma in prepubertal children.
abstract: Malignant melanoma in prepubertal children is a rare event. Nine patients, 9.0 +/- 2.4 years (mean +/- S.D.), presented with malignant melanoma between December, 1975 and August, 1991. The thickness of the lesions ranged from 0.57 to > 4 mm. All patients (n = 6) with stage I or II disease are presently alive. Prepubertal patients with malignant melanoma tend to exhibit thick lesions when initially diagnosed. Their survival appears to be comparable or increased relative to their adult counterparts.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Plastic Surgery, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pensler
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hijjawi
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Paller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011230:Precancerous Conditions; D011627:Puberty; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate