Melanomas in Prepubescent Children: Review Comprehensively, Critique Historically, Criteria Diagnostically, and Course Biologically

Mones, Joan M.; Ackerman, Bernard

doi:10.1097/00000372-200312000-00012

Cited by 37 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The clinical follow-up of these cases currently is limited to 2-78 months; therefore, prognosis cannot be evaluated at present, and long-term follow-up is necessary. 18 In summary, we conclude that mutation analysis of B-RAF, N-RAS, and H-RAS is not useful in differentiating between Spitzoid melanoma and Spitz nevus in children. Based on previous clinical observations and the results of the current study, there are clinical, histopathologic, and genetic similarities between Spitzoid melanomas and Spitz nevi.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…The clinical and histopathologic features of 7 of the 9 Spitzoid melanomas (Patients 11-17) evaluated in the current study have been reported previously. 18 The Spitzoid melanomas in the current series were de novo melanomas occurring in prepubescent children (age Յ 10 years) that exhibited Spitz nevus-like histopathology. All patients except for one (for whom a diagnosis was not rendered) originally were diagnosed by the referring pathologist as having Spitz nevus, atypical Spitz nevus, or atypical Spitz nevus versus melanoma (Table 1).…”

Section: Clinical and Histopathologic Featuresmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…The second group consisted of 10 'typical' Spitz nevus specimens obtained from children age Յ 10 years; the diagnostic criteria for these tumors have been described previously. 17,18 …”

Section: Selection Of Specimensmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Genetic similarities between Spitz nevus and Spitzoid melanoma in children

Gill

Cohen

Renwick

et al. 2004

Cancer

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BACKGROUNDMelanoma in children is rare. Diagnosis of the subtype of melanoma known as Spitzoid melanoma can be extremely challenging in this age group. Spitzoid melanoma clinically and histopathologically resembles a benign melanocytic proliferation referred to as Spitz nevus. In some cases, distinction between the two is impossible. Initial misdiagnoses of Spitzoid melanomas as Spitz nevi, thus leading to fatal outcomes, have occurred. The genetic basis and biologic behavior of Spitzoid melanoma is unknown. Although melanoma specimens exhibit high rates of mutation in the B‐RAF and N‐RAS genes, the Spitzoid melanoma subtype has not been evaluated. Spitz nevi have been found to be associated with a low percentage of mutations in the H‐RAS gene; however, the mutational profile of H‐RAS in Spitzoid melanoma is unknown.METHODSThe authors evaluated a unique series of melanomas occurring in prepubescent children that showed Spitz nevus–like histopathology (Spitzoid melanoma). All of the melanomas in the current series have metastasized to lymph nodes, confirming the diagnosis of melanoma. The authors examined these tumors, as well as age‐matched Spitz nevi, for mutations in the B‐RAF, N‐RAS, and H‐RAS genes.RESULTSActivating hotspot mutations in the B‐RAF, N‐RAS, and H‐RAS genes were not identified in Spitzoid melanoma or Spitz nevus specimens.CONCLUSIONSThere are genetic similarities with respect to the B‐RAF, N‐RAS, and H‐RAS genes between Spitzoid melanoma and Spitz nevi. Such similarities further differentiate these two tumor types from other melanoma subtypes and from melanocytic nevi, respectively. However, mutation analysis of B‐RAF, N‐RAS, and H‐RAS was not useful in differentiating between Spitzoid melanoma and Spitz nevus in children. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Section: Clinical and Histopathologic Featuresmentioning

confidence: 76%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Genetic similarities between Spitz nevus and Spitzoid melanoma in children

Gill

Cohen

Renwick

et al. 2004

Cancer

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Thicker melanomas because of delayed diagnosis might be explained by more uncommon clinical variants of CMM, or by a low awareness that melanomas do occur in childhood and a reluctance to take skin biopsies from children. [32][33][34] Alternatively, it might be an effect of more aggressive and rapidly growing tumors in this age group. 32 Suspicious lesions should be excised for histological evaluation, also in children.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cutaneous malignant melanoma in children and adolescents in Sweden, 1993–2002: The increasing trend is broken

Karlsson

Fredrikson

2007

Intl Journal of Cancer

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma rose rapidly in teenagers in Sweden during 1973Sweden during -1992, while it remained low in younger children. To study the further trends and characteristics of melanoma in this young population, data on all cases in individuals under 20 years of age reported to the Swedish Cancer Registry during [1993][1994][1995][1996][1997][1998][1999][2000][2001][2002], and the corresponding pathology reports were examined. Seventy-nine cases were reported to the Registry. There were 24 males and 55 females. Most melanomas occurred on the trunk followed by the legs in both genders. The median tumor thickness was 0.8 mm. Children under age 15 had thicker melanomas than individuals aged 15-19. Superficial spreading melanoma was the most common histological subtype (43/78, 55%). The melanoma-specific 5-year survival rate was 90%. During 1993-2002, the age-standardized incidence fell to 3.6/million from 5.0/million in 1983-1992 (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.58-0.92). The most pronounced decrease was for melanomas on the trunk in boys and on the legs in girls. The incidence for 15-19-year-old boys peaked for the cohort born between 1968 and 1972 and for girls between 1973 and 1977. The decrease in incidence may be a result of public health campaigns aiming at reducing sun exposure in childhood. A contributing effect from an increased immigration of individuals with darker complexions and at a lower melanoma risk is probable. ' 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

show abstract

“…6,34 Mones and Ackerman described the histopathologic features of a series of Spitzoid melanomas that occurred in children before puberty (age 10 yrs or younger). 35 All melanomas in that unique group had metastasized, confirming the diagnosis of melanoma.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Are all melanomas the same?

Lee

Cohen

Twaddell

et al. 2006

Cancer

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BACKGROUNDAlthough the majority of melanomas demonstrate high rates of mutations in B‐RAF or N‐RAS that result in constitutive activation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase‐signaling pathway, emerging data suggest molecular differences among melanoma subtypes. In this study, the authors evaluated the contribution of B‐RAF and N‐RAS mutations to the pathogenesis of Spitzoid melanomas.METHODSIn total, 33 Spitzoid melanomas were analyzed for clinical and pathologic characteristics as well as for hot‐spot mutations in the B‐RAF and N‐RAS genes. In the majority of patients (28 of 33 melanomas), the tumors were confined to the skin with no evidence of metastasis (average follow‐up, 32.5 mos). There were five metastasizing melanomas (5 of 33 tumors) with regional or systemic spread.RESULTSOf 33 Spitzoid melanomas, only 1 showed the V600E mutation in the B‐RAF gene (1 of 33 tumors; 3%). It was noteworthy that none of the metastatic Spitzoid melanomas (0 of 5 tumors; 0%), of which 2 resulted in fatal outcomes, demonstrated mutations in B‐RAF or N‐RAS.CONCLUSIONSIn contrast to the majority of cutaneous melanomas, activating hot‐spot mutations in B‐RAF or N‐RAS were not involved in the pathogenesis of Spitzoid melanoma. These data suggested that Spitzoid melanoma is a distinct form of melanoma with unknown genes and/or signaling pathways involved in its development. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.

show abstract

Melanomas in Prepubescent Children: Review Comprehensively, Critique Historically, Criteria Diagnostically, and Course Biologically

Cited by 37 publications

References 0 publications

Genetic similarities between Spitz nevus and Spitzoid melanoma in children

Genetic similarities between Spitz nevus and Spitzoid melanoma in children

Cutaneous malignant melanoma in children and adolescents in Sweden, 1993–2002: The increasing trend is broken

Are all melanomas the same?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About