The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2012 , Vol 54 , Num 4
Malignant melanoma developed on a congenital melanocytic nevus with lymph node metastasis in a 19-month-old boy
1Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, and
2Adana Numune Training and Research Hospital, Adana, and 3Tatvan State Hospital, Bitlis, Turkey.
E-mail: gamze-bkts@hotmail.com
Although rare, malignant melanoma occurs in children. The risk of degeneration
of a congenital melanocytic nevus into a melanoma is approximately 0.7%.
We report a case of malignant melanoma that developed on a congenital
melanocytic nevus in a 19-month-old boy. The child was treated by surgical
resection, superficial parotidectomy, and modified radical neck dissection with
adjuvant therapy. The follow-up has been 24 months without metastasis.
Early clinical detection, fast histological confirmation, prompt surgery, and
adjuvant therapy are the only means to achieve a long survival period for
children suffering from malignant melanoma.
Keywords :
congenital melanocytic nevus, malignant melanoma, pediatric melanoma.