title: Merkel cell carcinoma of the cheek with metastases to the parotid gland: a report of two cases.
abstract: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare tumor of neuroendocrine origin. It is a highly invasive and aggressive neoplasia, that frequently presents regional and distant metatases. Therefore, there is high mortality associated with it. This report presents two male patients, one sixty three years and the other eighty eight years of age, with MCC of the cheek and invasive metastatic lesions to the head and neck areas. One of the patients died of associated distant metastatic disease and the other patient died of comorbid conditions present at time of tumor excision.
authors.affiliation: MS-11, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico--School of Medicine. laugi@coqui.net
authors.forename: Laureano A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Giraldez Rodriguez
authors.forename: Laureano J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Giraldez Casasnovas
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D002610:Cheek; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery