Melanoma in children, adolescents and young adults: anatomo-clinical features and prognostic study on 426 cases

Cutaneous melanoma in vicenarians: Patients in their twenties and older patients show similar clinical behaviors and survival rates

“…No differences have been found between young and adult melanomas in terms of association with significant prognostic indicators, such as thickness, ulceration, mitotic rate, node involvement, and distant dissemination . Prognosis and survival outcome rates are believed to be similar in pediatric/AYA and adult melanomas; however, melanoma lesions tend to be thicker in young patients at the presentation, notwithstanding previous contradicting reports . In our previous study, we observed that melanomas under age 40 (n = 297, ranging from 16 to 39 years) were mostly females (52.2%, P = .01) and associated with low Clark invasion level ( P = .013), thin Breslow depth ( P = .038), low mitotic rate ( P = .007) and absence of ulceration ( P = .003) .…”

“…No differences have been found between young and adult melanomas in terms of association with significant prognostic indicators, such as thickness, ulceration, mitotic rate, node involvement, and distant dissemination . Prognosis and survival outcome rates are believed to be similar in pediatric/AYA and adult melanomas; however, melanoma lesions tend to be thicker in young patients at the presentation, notwithstanding previous contradicting reports .…”

“…Likewise, distinctions in biology might also result in variations in clinical behaviors in AYA melanoma patients compared to their adult counterparts. Somatic mutations in BRAF gene are the most common genetic alterations harbored in 50%‐60% of adult melanomas and benign melanocytic nevi (80%), and melanoma patients under age 40 have a greater incidence for harboring BRAF (V600E) mutation than older melanoma patients . A small series of pediatric melanomas showed that 87% of pediatric and AYA melanomas harbored activating BRAF mutations …”

“…Adolescent and young adult melanoma differs from adult melanoma on histopathological characteristics and clinical behaviors; hence, the biological operation of melanoma of young age is expected to be distinct . This is indeed considered as a biologically unique entity that manifests with different clinicopathological features . However, very few trials have specifically addressed melanomas in AYAs …”

“…This is indeed considered as a biologically unique entity that manifests with different clinicopathological features . However, very few trials have specifically addressed melanomas in AYAs …”