Background: This is a retrospective review of head and neck melanomas from Turkey, with emphasis on those of the cheeks.

Findings: 98 cheek melanomas and 183 non-cheek melanomas were studied.

Conclusions: The authors found that cheek melanomas were associated with lower relapse rates and more favourable outcomes, with a 5-year recurrence-free survival of 80%

Authors: F.Tas, K.Erturk

Journal: Annals of Plastic Surgery, 2019; 82: 407-410

Background: The incidence of melanoma is increasing worldwide, but is still fortunately rare in children. Current management of paediatric melanoma is usually based on that of adult pathways, and so this article looked to gain more understanding of paediatric melanoma; the authors looked at 21 years of melanoma in the Republic of Ireland in children aged up to 16 years old.

Findings: 24 patients were included in the study, with a median age of 15 years. Most cases arose on the limbs; 8 patients had recurrence and 5 died. Almost half of the patients in this study presented with de novo lesions, whilst other studies have reported more common presentation of melanoma arising in a pre-existing lesion. Overall survival in the under-13s was slightly better than older children.

Conclusions: Paediatric melanoma remains rare, but frequent enough to warrant awareness among clinicians. This article adds to the knowledge of the nature of paediatric melanoma, but is a relatively small study.

Authors: C.S.Quinlan et al

Journal: Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 2019; 72: 1388 – 1395