Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41948797›Full record

ArticleHead & neck2026

Head and Neck Mucosal Melanoma in the Era of Immunotherapy: A National Cancer Database Review.

Lilah Kahloon, Reema Ishteiwy, Tanya Gupta, Christina Albert, Devaughn Crawford, Zhanxu Liu, Maiying Kong, Neal Dunlap, Elizabeth Cash, Melanie Townsend

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Head & neck, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

10 authors.

Lilah KahloonSchool of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2125-5703
Reema IshteiwyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Tanya GuptaSchool of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5039-5838
Christina AlbertDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery & Communicative Disorders, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Devaughn CrawfordDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery & Communicative Disorders, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Zhanxu LiuUofL Health-Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Maiying KongDepartment of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, UofL Health-Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Neal DunlapDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Elizabeth CashDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery & Communicative Disorders, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Melanie TownsendDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery & Communicative Disorders, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHead and neck mucosal melanoma (HNMM) is a rare, aggressive malignancy with poor survival and no standardized treatment. This study investigates the role and sequencing of surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy in HNMM management.

methodsThe National Cancer Database was queried for HNMM cases from 2004 to 2020. Parameters included patient demographics, disease characteristics, treatment types, and survival outcomes. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to demonstrate associations between disease characteristics and treatment type and sequence on overall survival.

resultsA total of 3704 adult cases were included. Advanced age, positive surgical margins, advanced stage, male sex, and treatment outside of an academic center were correlated with reduced survival. Surgery was utilized in most cases (79.3%) and its inclusion in any treatment combination significantly improved survival (HR = 0.52, p < 0.001). Immunotherapy following surgery showed improved survival (HR = 0.87, p = 0.017). The use of radiation or chemotherapy alone correlated with poorer survival. Multimodal treatments showed survival benefits, particularly those that included both surgery and immunotherapy.

conclusionsSurgery remains paramount in the treatment of HNMM. Immunotherapy shows promise in multimodal regimens, though optimal sequencing warrants further investigation. Standardized guidelines and prospective studies are needed.

Indexed as

Head and Neck NeoplasmsImmunotherapyMelanomaAdultAgedCombined Modality TherapyDatabases, FactualFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMucous MembraneUnited Statescancer managementhead and neckimmunotherapymucosal melanomamultimodal treatment

Identifiers

PMID41948797
PMCPMC13432294

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.