CUTANEOUS MALIGNANT-MELANOMA IN THE YOUNG

Between the years 1967 and 1993, 3246 patients were diagnosed with mal ignant melanoma at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol. This paper reports 47 p atients, 21 years of age or under, including 10 preadolescent cases un der 14 years of age. It represents a further follow-up of a cohort ori ginally published from this centre in 1986 in addition to 18 new cases . Most (89%) of the lesions occurred on the trunk and extremities, wit h females showing a predominance of lesions on the lower limbs. 83% of the melanomas were of the superficial spreading type; 72% invaded to Clark level III and IV. Thickness ranged from 0.29mm to 50.00mm (media n 1.20 mm). Ulceration was present in 17% of cases and 32% of melanoma s arose within a pre-existing small congenital melanocytic naevus. Ove rall 5-year survival was 81%, with a mean follow-up of 8.5 years. Ulce ration and tumour thickness of greater than 1.5 mm were associated wit h a poor prognosis.