Analysis of the increasing incidence of melanomas in Caucasian children and adolescents

Abstract

Melanoma is a cutaneous tumor of great importance. It has an embryonic origin in the neuroectodermal tissue, resulting from the uncontrolled proliferation of melanoblasts and of unknown etiology. This article seeks to acclimate the reader to the clinical presentations related to the increasing incidence of melanomas in children and adolescents, providing an in-depth analysis of the topic in order to inform them about prognosis, appropriate treatments, and specialized therapeutic options for the disease. The SciELO, PubMed, ELSEVIER, MEDLINE and Google Scholar platforms were used as a source of research for this descriptive review. Risk factors such as sun exposure, skin phototype, presence of atypical nevi, family history, or premalignant skin lesions. For the diagnosis it is necessary to do a skin biopsy, histopathological study, thickness analysis, staging, and institute therapy. The cure being given by surgical treatment. Finally, melanoma is a disease with easy diagnosis, which needs preventive care in each evolutionary phase. Early and multidisciplinary monitoring helps children and adolescents in proper treatment and alerting them to preventive actions to the onset of the disease.