Risk factors in pediatric melanoma: a retrospective study of 39 cases

Abstract

Pediatric melanoma is a rare form of the tumor whose epidemiology is widely increasing thanks to the improvement of dermoscopic and anatomopathologic diagnostic techniques. Although it is a tumor of considerable interest in adults, little has been described about the pediatric field. The objective of our study was then to identify the possible risk factors for the development of melanoma in the pediatric population. We performed a retrospective study conducted in the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Unit and Unit of Dermatology (Livorno, Italy). We analyzed a population of 38 children under 21 years with a diagnosis of melanoma. This population was compared with a control population of 114 children followed up in our dermatologic clinic. From our combined univariate-multivariate statistics analysis, the number of nevi [regression coefficient (RC) of 1.04 and odds ratio (OR) of 2.8 confidence interval (Cl, 1.2–6.6)], and family history of melanoma [RC of 1.99 and OR of 7.3 (Cl, 2.3–22.7)] emerged as possible risk factors for the development of melanoma. The identification of these elements would allow the physician to carry out a more targeted preliminary assessment of the patient, potentially decisive in cases of diagnostic doubt of the lesion. Our study also lays the foundations for identifying those children who, despite not having received a diagnosis of melanoma on histologic examination, should be considered as patients susceptible to a focused follow-up, because of the presence of the risk factors that emerged from our research.

Epidemiology of melanoma: the importance of correctly reporting to the cancer registries.

“…The aim of our study was then to take a precise picture of the epidemiology and characteristics of patients with a diagnosis of melanoma made in a center traditionally considered to have a high incidence of melanoma (Hospital of Livorno, Italy) (Bagnoni et al , 2019; Fidanzi et al , 2021), to directly access the reports included in the electronic registry of the pathology unit without omitting any of them.…”

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges in Pediatric Cutaneous Melanoma: Two Case Reports From the Moroccan Population

“…Although sharing similar risk factors with adult CM (e.g., fair skin, sun exposure, and a history of sunburns), other studies suggest additional factors such as congenital, dysplastic, or numerous nevi, family history of melanoma, genetic disorders like xeroderma pigmentosum, and acquired or congenital immunosuppression [ 9 ]. In our paper, we found that neither patient had any specific risk factors.…”

Epidemiology of Merkel cell carcinoma in Tuscany (Italy), 2006–2021

“…We retrospectively collected all MCC reports in the time range 2006-2021 from the surgical pathology archives of the University Hospital of Pisa, Italy, and from the Hospital of Livorno, Italy. Of note, a higher incidence of melanoma has been reported in this area of Italy (Bagnoni et al, 2019;Fidanzi et al, 2021Fidanzi et al, , 2022. Overall, we collected 94 cases.…”