Complete spontaneous regression in Merkel cell carcinoma.
Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive, cutaneous malignancy of the elderly with a generally poor prognosis. Like all skin cancers, its incidence is rising. A few reports of spontaneous regression have been published. The case of a 67-year-old female patient who presented with a cheek Merkel cell carcinoma is described. Following biopsy it underwent complete regression with no evidence of residual tumour in the excision specimen taken seven weeks later. The current knowledge of Merkel cell carcinoma and the other cases of spontaneous regression described in the literature are reviewed.
Vesely
Martin J J
MJ
Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Toronto, University Health Network, Wharton Head & Neck Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Murray
Dylan J
DJ
Neligan
Peter C
PC
Novak
Christine B
CB
Gullane
Patrick J
PJ
Ghazarian
Danny
D
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002610:Cheek; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed