approximately 2% of melanomas occur in patients under 20 years
0.3-0.4% of melanomas occur in prepubertal children
20% of melanomas in children and adolescents occur in the head and neck
risk factors for the development of malignant melanomas in children include:
giant congenital melanocytic naevi
dysplastic naevus syndrome
xeroderma pigmentosum
immunodeficiency states
the inability to tan, increased numbers of benign naevi, and history of blistering sunburns during childhood and adolescence confer greater susceptibility to the development of malignant melanoma in adulthood
Reference:
Markovic SN et al. Malignant melanoma in the 21st century, part 1: epidemiology, risk factors, screening, prevention, and diagnosis. Mayo Clin Proc. 2007;82(3):364-80
Ceballos PI et al. Melanoma in children. NEJM 1995;332: 656-62.
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