Treatment outcomes following partial shave biopsy of atypical and malignant melanocytic tumors in pediatric patients.

Pediatric melanoma is the most common skin cancer in children and treatment relies on accurate staging. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends excisional biopsy for suspicious skin lesions, however, partial shave biopsies are often performed, the impact of which is unknown in pediatric and adolescent/young adult (AYA) patients. The aim of this retrospective case series study was to evaluate the impact of the diagnostic biopsy method on staging, treatment, and treatment-related outcomes in pediatric/AYA patients with melanoma.