The prognostic value of tumor mitotic rate in children and adolescents with cutaneous melanoma: a retrospective cohort study.

Abstract Background Mitotic rate is a strong predictor of outcome in adult patients with primary cutaneous melanoma but for children and adolescent patients this is unknown. Objective To assess the prognostic value of primary tumor mitotic rate in children and adolescents with primary melanoma. Methods Cohort study of 156 patients aged Results Thirteen of the 156 patients (8%) were children. Mitotic rate was ≥1/mm2 in 104 patients (67%) and correlated with increasing Breslow thickness. A positive sentinel node was found in 23 of the 61 patients (38%) who underwent sentinel node biopsy. Median follow-up was 61 months. Five-year melanoma-specific and recurrence-free survival were 91% and 84%, respectively. Mitotic rate was a stronger predictor of outcome than tumor thickness, and the only factor independently associated with recurrence-free survival. Limitations single institution, small sample size Conclusion Mitotic rate is an independent predictor of recurrence-free survival in children and adolescents with clinically localized melanoma.