TY - JOUR
T1 - Melanoma in children and teenagers
T2 - An analysis of patients from the National Cancer Data Base
AU - Lange, Julie R.
AU - Palis, Bryan E.
AU - Chang, David C.
AU - Soong, Seng Jaw
AU - Balch, Charles M.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2007/4/10
Y1 - 2007/4/10
N2 - Purpose: This study examines the demographics, presentation, and outcomes of children and teenagers with melanoma using a US hospital-based oncology database. Patients and Methods: Data from the National Cancer Data Base from 1985 through 2003 were examined for demographics, presentation, and survival of patients aged 1 to 19 years, as well as a comparison group of patients aged 20 to 24 years. Two-sided linear and Pearson x2 tests were calculated to examine associations. Proportions were compared using two-sided z tests. Five-year overall observed survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate risk of mortality. Results: Of 3,158 patients aged 1 to 19 years, 96.3% had cutaneous melanoma, 3.0% had ocular melanoma, and 0.7% had an unknown primary tumor. Cutaneous melanoma in patients aged 1 to 19 years was more common in girls (55.5%) and patients older than 10 years (90.5%). The demographics and presentation of cutaneous melanoma were age related; younger children were significantly more likely to be nonwhite and male and more likely to present with a head and neck primary tumors and with regional or distant metastases (linear x2, P < .001 for sex, race, and extent of disease). Poorer survival was associated with higher stage and younger age. In contrast to patients aged 20 to 24 years, survival was not related to thickness in patients aged 1 to 19 years with localized invasive melanoma. Conclusion: Melanoma in children and teenagers differs from melanoma in young adults in demographics, presentation, and survival. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate possible biologic correlates of the unique aspects of melanoma in children and teenagers.
AB - Purpose: This study examines the demographics, presentation, and outcomes of children and teenagers with melanoma using a US hospital-based oncology database. Patients and Methods: Data from the National Cancer Data Base from 1985 through 2003 were examined for demographics, presentation, and survival of patients aged 1 to 19 years, as well as a comparison group of patients aged 20 to 24 years. Two-sided linear and Pearson x2 tests were calculated to examine associations. Proportions were compared using two-sided z tests. Five-year overall observed survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate risk of mortality. Results: Of 3,158 patients aged 1 to 19 years, 96.3% had cutaneous melanoma, 3.0% had ocular melanoma, and 0.7% had an unknown primary tumor. Cutaneous melanoma in patients aged 1 to 19 years was more common in girls (55.5%) and patients older than 10 years (90.5%). The demographics and presentation of cutaneous melanoma were age related; younger children were significantly more likely to be nonwhite and male and more likely to present with a head and neck primary tumors and with regional or distant metastases (linear x2, P < .001 for sex, race, and extent of disease). Poorer survival was associated with higher stage and younger age. In contrast to patients aged 20 to 24 years, survival was not related to thickness in patients aged 1 to 19 years with localized invasive melanoma. Conclusion: Melanoma in children and teenagers differs from melanoma in young adults in demographics, presentation, and survival. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate possible biologic correlates of the unique aspects of melanoma in children and teenagers.
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U2 - 10.1200/JCO.2006.08.8310
DO - 10.1200/JCO.2006.08.8310
M3 - Article
C2 - 17416855
AN - SCOPUS:34248188591
SN - 0732-183X
VL - 25
SP - 1363
EP - 1368
JO - Journal of Clinical Oncology
JF - Journal of Clinical Oncology
IS - 11
ER -