Pediatric Melanoma: The Whole (Genome) Story

Melanoma in children is a rare entity. Based on 2006 – 2010 SEER data, it is estimated that melanoma accounts for approximately 2% of all malignances in patients younger than 20.1 The majority of these cases (75%) occur in patients ages 15–19, and in this population, melanoma accounts for approximately 5% to 6% of all cancers. Despite its rarity, the incidence of pediatric melanoma continues to increase at a rate of 2% each year. This incidence of disease is even higher among 15–19 year olds and has increased in geographical areas with low UVB exposure.2