title: Merkel cell tumor of the head and neck. Five new cases with literature review.
abstract: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the skin is an uncommon, but highly aggressive neoplasm with a marked propensity for local and distant metastasis. Despite the fact that more than half of the 600 cases of MCC reported in the literature involved primary sites in the head and neck, MCC has rarely been discussed in otolaryngology publications. We present five new cases of MCC of the head and neck and summarize 89 additional cases from the literature in which detailed treatment and survival data were given. Our findings again emphasize the difficulty in making the initial histopathologic diagnosis of MCC and demonstrate the necessity of early diagnosis and multimodality treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery (Head and Neck Division), Loma Linda University School of Medicine, CA.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Chonkich
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Chase
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy