A Case of Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Treated with Wide Excision and Adjuvant Radiotherapy.
Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare aggressive primary cutaneous neuroendocrine skin cancer arising from the basal epidermis. Although the majority of patients with non-melanoma skin cancer are cured by local treatment, patients with Merkel cell carcinoma have a poor outcome characterized by locoregional and distant relapse. No standard treatment protocol for Merkel cell carcinoma exists. But, there is mounting evidence that combined treatment, incorporating adjuvant radiotherapy, improves the outcome (locoregional control and disease-free survival) compared with surgery alone in most patients. Herein we report a case of Merkel cell carcinoma treated with wide local excision and post-operative radiotherapy.
Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hyun Ju
HJ
Lee
Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Gyeong Hun
GH
Park
Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Sung Eun
SE
Chang
Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Mi Woo
MW
Lee
Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jee Ho
JH
Choi
Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kee Chan
KC
Moon
Adjuvant radiotherapy; Merkel cell carcinoma; Wide local excision