Dermatology 2026

Cutaneous malignant melanoma is an aggressive melanocytic neoplasm with high metastatic potential and significant diagnostic challenges, particularly in atypical clinical presentations. This bibliographic review aimed to analyze the clinical applicability of tumor biomarkers in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma based on case reports published between 2021 and 2026. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS databases, resulting in the selection of 15 relevant articles after inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The analyzed cases demonstrated that immunohistochemical biomarkers such as S100, SOX10, HMB-45, and Melan-A play a crucial role in confirming melanocytic origin, especially in amelanotic, metastatic, dermal, subcutaneous, and extracutaneous melanomas. S100 showed the highest sensitivity, while SOX10 demonstrated particular relevance in poorly differentiated and metastatic tumors. HMB-45 and Melan-A contributed to diagnostic confirmation when used in biomarker panels. Molecular markers also showed prognostic and therapeutic significance. BRAF V600E mutation was associated with targeted therapy eligibility, whereas PRAME aided in distinguishing melanoma from other cutaneous neoplasms. Ki-67 contributed to the assessment of tumor proliferative activity and aggressiveness. Overall, the findings demonstrate that tumor biomarkers significantly improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic decision-making when integrated with clinical, histopathological, imaging, and molecular evaluation.

Caroline Teruszkin Wiedermann is a 24-year-old medical student at Estácio de Sá University School of Medicine, Rio de Janeiro (IDOMED), with strong academic involvement in dermatology and clinical research. She has participated in national and international medical conferences, including IMCAS and the Azulay Institute Dermatology Congress, and has contributed to scientific publications and academic projects focused on dermatology and melanoma research. Caroline has also completed extracurricular training programs, leadership activities, hospital internships, and volunteer initiatives, demonstrating continuous engagement in medical education, scientific development, and patient care.