title: Superficial Spreading Melanomas in Children: An Analysis of Outcomes Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Database.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to review the incidence and outcomes for children with superficial spreading melanomas (SSM) using population-based data.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (1974-2009) was analyzed for all patients less than 20 years of age diagnosed with SSM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 724 patients were identified. The annual age-adjusted incidence was 1.78 cases per 1,000,000 in 2009. Most patients were adolescents (N = 620, 85.6%), girls (N = 478, 66.0%), and Caucasian (N = 670, 92.5%). Most tumors were located on the trunk (N = 308, 42.5%) or lower extremities (N = 160, 22.1%). Overall and disease-specific survivals were 95.6% and 97.6%, respectively. Lymph node positivity decreased disease-specific survival among patients undergoing lymph node dissection (86% vs. 100% for negative lymph nodes, P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incidence of SSM increased in the early part of the study, but has remained relatively stable over the past 2 decades. Girls are at higher risk of development of the disease. Outcomes for children with SSM are very favorable.
authors.affiliation: From the *DeWitt-Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, and †Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Miami, Leonard Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL.
authors.forename: Bassan J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ovadia
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tashiro
authors.forename: Seth R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Thaller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D018426:SEER Program; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult