Merkel cell carcinoma after liver transplantation: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer with a very low incidence in the general population. MCC seems to be common in transplant recipients and 52 cases have been reported in the literature.


RESULTS
This report describes a Merkel cell carcinoma which developed in a liver transplant recipient. To our knowledge, this is the second such case reported, as Merkel cell carcinoma most commonly occurs after kidney and heart transplants. The treatment approach is described and the literature on the subject is reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
There is currently no consensus regarding the optimal therapeutic approach to Merkel cell carcinoma. In transplant recipients, such tumors are more common and more aggressive but their treatment does not differ from the treatment of Merkel cell carcinomas in the general population.
Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Centro di Riferimento per lo Studio e la Cura del Carcinoide e dei Tumori Neuroendocrini (CeRiCa), Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy. emilio.bajetta@istitotumori.mi.it
Emilio
E
Bajetta
Marco
M
Platania
Laura
L
Catena
Ettore
E
Bichisao
Alessandra
A
Fabbri
Giuseppe
G
Procopio
Sara
S
De Dosso
Roberto
R
Buzzoni
D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007866:Leg; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus