A Case of Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Treated with Wide Excision and Adjuvant Radiotherapy

• DOI: 10.5021/ad.2008.20.2.90
• Publication Date: 2016-01-11T08:53:47Z
• Authors: Hyun Ju Lee; Gyeong Hun Park; Sung Eun Chang; Mi Woo Lee; Jee Ho Choi; Kee Chan Moon
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 3. Good health

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.