Malignant melanoma in children: imaging spectrum.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate the role of diagnostic imaging in detecting unsuspected metastatic disease in children with malignant melanoma. This has not been well studied previously.


METHODS
We correlated imaging findings of 33 children diagnosed with melanoma with the level of invasion and clinical stage of disease.


RESULTS
Clinically undetectable metastases were identified in eight patients (25 %), four of whom had multiple metastases. All eight patients had deep lesions (Clark's level IV or V) or unknown primary sites of disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with thick melanomas and those with unknown site of primary tumors are at increased risk of having clinically unsuspected metastases and should undergo CT of the chest, abdomen, and local-regional nodal basins at diagnosis to determine disease extent.
Kaste
S C
SC
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, P. O. Box 318, Memphis, TN 38101-0318, USA.
Pappo
A S
AS
Jenkins
J J
JJ
Pratt
C B
CB
D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005121:Extremities; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000175:diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed