Malignant melanoma in children. A review

Malignant melanoma in the palate of a 3‐month‐old child

“…5 The clinical and histological features of malignant melanoma in children are more frequently misleading than in adults. 6 In pediatric patients the differential diagnosis of malignant melanoma includes mainly nevi of large epithelioid and/or spindled cells (Reed and Spitz nevi), dysplastic nevi, traumatized nevi both congenital and acquired, and blue nevi. 6 Spitz nevus is one of the most frequent diagnostic difficulties.…”

“…6 In pediatric patients the differential diagnosis of malignant melanoma includes mainly nevi of large epithelioid and/or spindled cells (Reed and Spitz nevi), dysplastic nevi, traumatized nevi both congenital and acquired, and blue nevi. 6 Spitz nevus is one of the most frequent diagnostic difficulties. 6 The criteria for distinguishing malignant melanoma from Spitz nevus are based on architectural and cytological features.…”

“…6 Spitz nevus is one of the most frequent diagnostic difficulties. 6 The criteria for distinguishing malignant melanoma from Spitz nevus are based on architectural and cytological features. These include asymmetry, expansile growth pattern, intralesional transformation of cell types within the tumor, ulceration, intralesional necrosis, and atypical or deep mitoses.…”

Cutaneous malignant melanoma in children

“…Malignant melanoma in children is capable of metastasis and may follow an aggressive pattern [4]. The connection between adult risk factors such as inability to tan or suering sunburn accompanied by blisters on the one hand and the development of childhood malignant melanoma on the other has not been proven [11].…”

“…This situation most commonly arises as the result of the physician's reluctance to recognise malignant melanoma in children [9,11]. Clinical symptoms indicative of malignant melanoma in children are lesions which are large or expanding, which have irregular edges and pigment distribution, and which undergo surface changes such as ulceration or loss of skin markings [11]. Malignant melanoma may be associated with clinical symptoms such as pain, pruritus or bleeding.…”