Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39777919›Full record

ArticleJournal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV2026

Desmoplastic melanoma in Sweden in 2009-2022: A population-based registry study demonstrating distinctive tumour characteristics, incidence and survival trends.

Yodit Girmay, Francesca Portelli, Rasmus Mikiver, Jan Lapins, Karolin Isaksson, Hildur Helgadottir

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV, 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. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
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

6 authors.

Yodit GirmayDepartment of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3350-3162
Francesca PortelliDepartment of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Rasmus MikiverRegional Cancer Center Southeast Sweden and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Jan LapinsDepartment of Dermatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0882-8959
Karolin IsakssonDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Surgery, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Hildur HelgadottirDepartment of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0735-4771

Funding

Cancerfonden 20 0156 FCancerfonden 21 1486 PjCancer Research Funds of Radiumhemmet 224023Region Stockholm 20200638
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDesmoplastic melanoma (DM) is a rare subtype, accounting for less than 5% of primary cutaneous invasive melanomas. DM often arises in chronically sun-exposed skin, in older individuals. While the incidence of cutaneous melanoma has increased globally, trends specific to DM are less documented and studies on survival outcomes for DM are inconsistent.

objectivesTo study patient and tumour characteristics, incidence trends and survival outcomes of desmoplastic melanoma in comparison with other melanoma subtypes using data from the population-based Swedish Melanoma Registry (SweMR).

methodsClinicopathological variables were obtained from SweMR, for patients diagnosed with invasive cutaneous melanomas diagnosed in Sweden from 2009 to 2022. Incidence rates of DM per 100,000 inhabitants were calculated. DM cases were identified and survival outcomes were compared across DM, superficial spreading melanoma (SSM), nodular melanoma (NM) and lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM). Survival was analysed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression methods.

resultsAmong 48,945 invasive melanomas, 388 (0.8%) were identified as DM. The incidence ranged between 0.1 and 0.4 cases per 100,000, without a evident rise, beside a certain peak in 2019-2020 in the men. DM had compared to other melanoma subtypes the thickest primary tumours (p < 0.001). When adjusting for baseline prognostic factors, DM patients had an improved melanoma-specific survival (HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.26-0.49). No significant improvement in survival was observed for DM diagnosed in 2015-2022 compared to those diagnosed in 2009-2014 (adjusted HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.45-2.14), whereas other subtypes showed an improvement (adjusted HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.68-0.80).

conclusionsIn contrast to the rising incidence of other melanoma subtypes, the incidence of DM has remained more stable over recent years. Despite presenting with adverse prognostic features, survival from DM is superior when adjusting for these factors. However, the introduction of anti-PD-1 therapy has not significantly improved survival for DM patients.

Indexed as

MelanomaSkin NeoplasmsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCutaneous Malignant MelanomaFemaleHumansIncidenceMaleMiddle AgedRegistriesSurvival RateSwedenYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID39777919
PMCPMC12723567

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.