Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39357874›Full record

ArticleJournal of cutaneous pathology2026

The Prognostic Significance of Tumoral Melanosis.

Alison J Potter, Peter M Ferguson, Serigne N Lo, Tasnia Ahmed, Robert V Rawson, John F Thompson, Georgina V Long, Richard A Scolyer

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cutaneous pathology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. The Prognostic Significance of Tumoral Melanosis.Journal of cutaneous pathology · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Alison J PotterMelanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Peter M FergusonMelanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8335-0406
Serigne N LoMelanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Tasnia AhmedMelanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Robert V RawsonMelanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
John F ThompsonMelanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Georgina V LongMelanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Richard A ScolyerMelanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8991-0013

Funding

Melanoma Institute AustraliaNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator GrantSydney ResearchUniversity of Sydney Medical Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTumoral melanosis (TM) is a histological term to describe a nodular aggregation of macrophages containing melanin pigment (melanophages) that is devoid of viable melanocytes. It is most often identified in skin, where it may be appreciated clinically as a pigmented lesion; however, it can also be found in other organs such as lymph nodes. The presence of TM is usually thought to signify the presence of a regressed melanoma or other pigmented tumor. Until recently, it was a relatively uncommon finding; however, with the use of effective systemic therapies against melanoma, its occurrence in histological specimens is more frequent.

methodsWe identified and reviewed all histopathological diagnoses of TM at any organ site reported at a single institution from 2006 to 2018. TM cases were paired with non-TM cases of cutaneous melanoma through propensity score matching at a 1:2 ratio, and their survival outcomes were compared. The clinical outcomes examined included recurrence-free survival (RFS), distant disease-free survival (DDFS), melanoma-specific survival (MSS), and overall survival (OS).

resultsTM was reported in 79 patients. Their median age was 65 years (range 22-88), with a 2:1 male predominance (51 out of 79, 65%). The most common organ involved was the skin (67%), with a third of all cases localized to a lower limb (36%). TM had a strong association with the presence of melanoma (91%) and regression at other sites of melanoma (54%), suggesting that it is part of a systemic immune response against melanoma. Most patients with TM either previously or subsequently developed histologically confirmed melanoma in the same anatomical region as the TM (89%). Thirty-five TM patients were matched with 70 non-TM cases. Patients with melanoma who developed TM without prior regional or systemic therapy showed improved MSS (p = 0.03), whereas no statistically significant differences were observed in terms of RFS, DDFS, and OS.

conclusionsTM usually occurs in the context of a previous or subsequent cutaneous melanoma and is associated with improved MSS. It is important that TM is recognized by pathologists and documented in pathology reports.

Indexed as

MelanomaMelanosisSkin NeoplasmsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overDisease-Free SurvivalFemaleHumansMaleMelanocytesMiddle AgedPrognosisRetrospective StudiesYoung Adultimmunotherapymelanomamelanophagesmelanosispathologypigmentationprognosisregressiontreatmenttumoral

Identifiers

PMID39357874
PMCPMC12711327

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.