Childhood malignant melanoma: an uncommon tumor. Three case reports

BACKGROUND: Malignant melanoma are uncommon in children and are sometimes d ifficult to distinguish from Spitz nevi. Histological diagnosis is particul arly difficult CASE REPORT: Three prepuberty children (aged 14, 10 and 14 years) underwent excision of suspicious nevi found at pathology examina tion to be malignan t melanomas. After complementary treatment the recurrence-free survival has been 18, 14 and 4 years respectively DISCUSSION: Clinical signs of malignant melanomas are unspecific. As in adu lts, any modification in a melanic lesion should led to excision and pathol ogy examination. In the literature, there is often a confusion between mali gnant melanoma developing in children and young adults making it difficult to determine the prognosis of the childhood disease. Prognosis of cutaneous malignant melanomas is generally good (excluding giant nevi and congenital malignant melanoma).