title: Clinical stage of Merkel cell carcinoma and survival are not associated with Breslow thickness of biopsied tumor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive malignancy that often presents on the skin with concurrent metastatic disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether Breslow thickness of biopsied MCC correlates with clinical disease stage.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of clinical data and histopathology specimens from 34 individuals with MCC treated at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute for whom complete clinical information and histopathology specimens were available.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no correlation between Breslow thickness of biopsied MCC on the head and neck or body and clinical stage of disease, progression-free survival, or overall survival. Hence, thin MCCs should not be taken to represent lesions with less-aggressive clinical behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings validate the current practice of staging all newly diagnosed MCC, irrespective of size or Breslow thickness.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Dermatology, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Leonid
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Izikson
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Helm
authors.forename: Novie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sroa
authors.forename: Nathalie C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Zeitouni
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate