title: Merkel cell carcinoma metastasis to the pancreas: report of a rare case and a review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare skin tumour which can metastasise to regional lymph nodes and occasionally to distant organs. Merkel cell carcinoma metastasis to the pancreas has been rarely reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the case of Merkel cell carcinoma metastasis to the pancreas and review the literature on this rare phenomenon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Merkel cell carcinomas metastasis should be considered as a differential in patients who present with a pancreatic mass with a previous history of Merkel cell carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide Discipline of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Woodville, SA, Australia. neilbhardwaj@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haiart
authors.forename: Harsh A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kanhere
authors.forename: Guy J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Maddern
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001706:Biopsy; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D053554:Keratin-20 / Q000032:analysis; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019002:CD56 Antigen; C507499:KRT20 protein, human; D053554:Keratin-20; C522918:NCAM1 protein, human