Unusual ulcerated Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin: report of a case.
Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive skin cancer, usually related to a severe prognosis. Treatment consists of wide surgical excision, adjuvant radiotherapy and/or polychemotherapy, but local-regional and distant relapses are common. Detection of histopathological and biological factors may select subgroups of patients suitable for different treatments. Herein we report the case of a patient treated for a wide bleeding and ulcerated Merkel cell carcinoma. Ulceration represents an uncommon feature because the tumor usually spreads from the dermis into subcutaneous fat, so it may be added to poor prognostic indicators. After surgical excision and postoperative radiotherapy, the patient recurred at regional nodes. Axillary lymphadenectomy was followed by courses of polychemotherapy. We obtained a satisfactory survival (31 months) by timing these different therapeutic possibilities.
Lucandri
Giorgio
G
3rd Department of Surgery, Hospital S. Giovanni, Addolorata, Rome, Italy. giorgiolucandri@libero.it
Mazzocchi
Paolo
P
Bascone
Bruno
B
Giordano
Marco
M
Castaldi
Massimo
M
Lazzarini
Alfredo
A
Carotenuto
Ferdinando
F
D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology