What are the treatments for melanoma in children?

Many people may not know much about melanoma, but this disease is not uncommon worldwide. If a child is diagnosed with melanoma, treatment should be started as soon as possible. Because the symptoms of melanoma are more obvious, parents just need to pay more attention to their children's health.

Treatment is generally divided into two categories: surgical and non-surgical. The details are as follows:

1. Surgical treatment: Generally, if the tumor volume is less than 10 mm, there is no need to do a biopsy first. Only a complete resection is needed and then the biopsy is sent. The resection line should be slightly farther and deeper from the tumor. For less malignant tumors, less resection is required. For more malignant tumors, more resection is required. Generally, according to Ring's suggestion, the distance between the tumor and the resection line should be 4 to 8 mm. But some people have suggested that it could reach more than 15 mm. If tumor tissue is still found in the tissue sent for examination, it can be removed and combined with other treatment methods. After tumor resection, reconstruction issues must be handled according to specific circumstances.

2. Non-surgical treatment: refers to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Because basal cell carcinoma is sensitive to radiotherapy, if the cancer is far away from the eyelid margin and the affected area is small, radiotherapy alone can be used, and the cure rate can reach more than 90% (reported by Shanghai Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital). However, radiotherapy also brings some complications, such as radiation dermatitis, keratitis and cataracts, and sometimes secondary glaucoma. If surgical resection and radiotherapy fail and the cancer has metastasized to the brain and other places, other treatments are the only options.

Malignant melanoma

Lentigo maligna Melanoma and lentigo maligna are usually treated with wide local excision and, if necessary, skin grafting. The effect of high-dose X-ray therapy is far worse than that of surgery. Lentigo maligna should be removed as soon as possible before the lesions become larger. With the exception of monitored cryosurgery, most other treatments do not reach deep enough to remove affected hair follicles.

Disseminated or nodular melanoma requires wide excision including the deep fascia. If lymph nodes are involved, they should be removed therapeutically and examined histologically.