Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40310541›Full record

Observational studyEuropean radiology2025

Adverse effects of systemic advanced melanoma therapies-do BRAF/MEK inhibitors increase the incidence of mesenteric panniculitis?

Marcel Alexander Drews, Alexander Baumgarten, Sebastian Zensen, Marcel Opitz, Denise Bos, Lisa Zimmer, Selma Ugurel, Johannes Haubold, Dirk Schadendorf, Elisabeth Livingstone and 1 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in European radiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

11 authors.

Marcel Alexander DrewsInstitute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany. marcelalexander.drews@uk-essen.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-9825-3136
Alexander BaumgartenInstitute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Sebastian ZensenInstitute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Marcel OpitzInstitute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Denise BosInstitute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Lisa ZimmerDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Selma UgurelDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Johannes HauboldInstitute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Dirk SchadendorfDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Elisabeth LivingstoneDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Benedikt M SchaarschmidtInstitute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesBRAF/MEK inhibitors (BRAFi/MEKi) and PD-1 and CTLA-4 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized malignant melanoma treatment and improved patients' clinical outcome significantly. However, these therapies are associated with substance class-specific side effects. Here, selected cases indicate a correlation between the incidence of mesenteric panniculitis (MP) and BRAFi/MEKi treatment. As MP can mimic or conceal underlying malignancy, the aim of the present study was to confirm a potential correlation with BRAFi/MEKi or ICI in a retrospective, observational analysis of melanoma patients. MATERIALS AND

methodsIn a monocentric retrospective study, abdominal CTs of 490 melanoma patients receiving first-line treatment with ICI (nivolumab, ipilimumab, pembrolizumab, nivolumab/ipilimumab) or BRAFi/MEKi (dabrafenib/trametinib, vemurafenib/cobimetinib, encorafenib/binimetinib) in the adjuvant or advanced situation were evaluated for MP development comparing baseline imaging prior therapy start and follow-up imaging under therapy. MP was defined as an unilocular mesenteric mass characterized by small tissue nodules with increased density of the adjacent fat and a surrounding pseudo-capsule.

results384 melanoma patients with ICI (161 women, median age at therapy start: 62 years, IQR: 21 years) and 106 patients with BRAFi/MEKi first-line therapy (46 women, median age: 58 years, IQR: 18 years) were evaluated. MP incidence was significantly higher following BRAFi/MEKi treatment compared to ICI (7.5% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.04). No significance was detected comparing time until MP development from therapy start (174 days, IQR: 518 days [BRAFi/MEKi] vs. 207 days, IQR: 298 days [ICI], p > 0.05).

conclusionOur study demonstrates a significant increase in MP development following BRAFi/MEKi treatment compared to ICI in patients with melanoma. As this benign condition can mimic or even conceal malignancy, awareness of its appearance is important. KEY POINTS: Question BRAF/MEK and immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized melanoma treatment but are associated with various side effects, yet data regarding the development of mesenteric panniculitis are scarce. Findings BRAF/MEK inhibitor treatment is associated with a significantly higher rate of mesenteric panniculitis compared to immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in advanced melanoma. Clinical relevance BRAF/MEK inhibitor-treated patients are at risk for development of mesenteric panniculitis. As this benign finding can mimic or conceal malignancy, awareness of it is important especially in these patients.

Indexed as

Immune Checkpoint InhibitorsMelanomaPanniculitis, PeritonealProtein Kinase InhibitorsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansIncidenceMaleMiddle AgedProto-Oncogene Proteins B-rafRetrospective StudiesTomography, X-Ray ComputedBRAF protein, humanImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsProtein Kinase InhibitorsProto-Oncogene Proteins B-rafBRAF/MEKImmunotherapyMelanomaMesenteric panniculitisSide effects

Identifiers

PMID40310541
PMCPMC12559126

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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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.