[Merkel cell carcinoma of the upper lid].
OBJECTIVE
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the skin is a rare form of cutaneous malignancy of neuroendocrine origin with a propensity to form cutaneous and lymphogenous metastases. The tumor, affecting predominately elderly patients, has a significantly higher incidence in female patients (80%) compared to male patients (20%). The mainstay of therapy is surgical resection with possible adjuvant radio- or chemotherapy.


METHODS
A case of a 78-year-old patient with a MCC of the upper lid without lymph node involvement or distant metastasis is described. The tumor was resected and the defect closed by a temporal skin flap performing a temporary cantholysis. The clinical follow-up revealed an undisturbed eye lid function without any clinical or radiological signs of a locoregional or distant recurrence.
Schmitt
W
W
Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Klinik für Kiefer- und Plastische Gesichtschirurgie, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. wolfgang.schmitt@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
Ramp
U
U
D000368:Aged; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps