VULVAR MELANOMA IN CHILDHOOD

Background: Malignant melanoma is rarely diagnosed during childhood. A pproximately 2% of malignant melanomas occur in patients younger than 20 years, with 0.3% to 0.5% of cases occurring in prepubescent childre n. In adult females malignant melanoma of the vulva and vagina is 100- fold less common than malignant melanoma of nongenital skin. Malignant melanoma of the vulva occurring in a child has been reported once bef ore. Observations: We report 2 cases of childhood vulvar malignant mel anoma presenting in preteenage girls. In both cases, the lesions were asymptomatic enlarging hyperpigmented macules on the labium minus. In addition to features diagnostic of malignant melanoma, histological ev idence of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus was identified in both lesion s. local excision with conservative margins was the treatment modality of choice in both cases, with good preservation of anatomic structure and function. Conclusions: This report is of 2 cases of vulvar melano ma in childhood, a rare, yet potentially devastating, presentation of melanoma. Biopsies on suspicious pigmented lesions on the vulva of pre pubescent children should be done to rule out malignant change.