title: [Merkel cell carcinoma and immunosuppression: report of three cases and review of therapeutic options].
abstract: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a cutaneous, neuroendocrine tumour of high malignancy that is described as a firm, purple tumour localised in the dermal layer. Due to its high progression rate, the 5-year survival rate is quoted as between 30 and 74 %. The course of disease is characterised by high relapse rate (30 - 77 %) and lymph node metastases (ca. 50 %). Therapy of MCC is based on a radical surgical excision combined with sentinel lymph node biopsy (stadium I), lymph node dissection (stadium II) and postoperative radiotherapy. We report three cases of MCC under immunosuppression and present therapeutic options of MCC in overview.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Plastische Chirurgie, Hand- und Verbrennungschirurgie, RWTH-Universitätsklinikum Aachen. agroeger@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gröger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piatkowski
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Unglaub
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pallua
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D002610:Cheek; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013848:Thigh; D013997:Time Factors