scholarly journals Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck: pathogenesis, current and emerging treatment options

2015 ◽  
pp. 2157
Author(s):  
Brett Miles ◽  
Alok Saini
2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (29) ◽  
pp. 3338-3345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandro V. Porceddu ◽  
Michael J. Veness ◽  
Alexander Guminski

Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer worldwide and the most frequently observed malignancy in whites. Approximately 75% to 80% are basal cell carcinomas and 20% to 25% are squamous cell carcinomas. Incidence is increasing, partly reflecting an ageing population, and NMSC is more commonly seen in men. The predominant causative agent is ultraviolet solar radiation exposure, with the majority of cases occurring on the head and neck. Surgical excision is typically the treatment of choice, providing histopathologic information, high cure rates, and acceptable cosmetic and functional outcomes. Radiation therapy is reserved for cases where surgery is not the preferred choice or for high-risk cases where adjuvant therapy is recommended. Although overall mortality rates are low, patients with complex cases such as those with immunosuppression should be considered for management within multidisciplinary tumor boards. In contrast, Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy, frequently arising on the head and neck in older whites, with a poorer prognosis. This article focuses on the current evidence guiding practice, recent advances, and areas of controversy in NMSC and Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 401-404
Author(s):  
Sangwoo Suk ◽  
Hyun Woo Shin ◽  
Kun Chul Yoon

Author(s):  
Y Nazarian ◽  
B Shalmon ◽  
Z Horowitz ◽  
L Bedrin ◽  
M R Pfeffer ◽  
...  

Merkel cell carcinoma is an uncommon and aggressive primary neuroendocrine skin malignancy which mostly affects the extremities and the head and neck region of elderly patients. Merkel cell carcinoma occurs with increased frequency in sun-exposed areas, in individuals exposed to arsenic and in immunosuppressed patients. Many patients with Merkel cell carcinoma present with other malignancies, mainly skin cancers. Characteristic features are frequent recurrences and regional and distant metastases. Mortality rates range from 20 to 65 per cent. The mainstay of treatment is surgery, with wide local excision, and adjuvant radiotherapy is usually administered. Merkel cell carcinoma of unknown primary site is rare, and the majority of the few cases described have not been from head and neck areas. We present a case of Merkel cell carcinoma of unknown primary site, with upper neck and distant metastases.


2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 337-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celestine M Trinidad ◽  
Carlos A Torres-Cabala ◽  
Victor G Prieto ◽  
Phyu P Aung

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma. The annual incidence of MCC is increasing in the USA. Timely diagnosis and proper staging of this tumour are crucial as MCC has high rates of regional recurrence and lymph node and distant metastasis. In this review, we outline the key differences between the tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging criteria for MCC in the seventh and eighth editions of the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. We also discuss histopathological parameters that are not included in the eighth edition of the manual but have been shown in other studies to predict a worse prognosis in patients with MCC. Correct assessment and reporting of these clinically relevant histopathological parameters is of utmost importance for practising pathologists as management differs according to the stage of the tumour. This review aims to increase awareness of all these parameters, and proper recognition would guide the treating clinicians towards the most appropriate treatment options that can be given to patients.


2005 ◽  
Vol 131 (7) ◽  
pp. 610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecelia E. Schmalbach ◽  
Lori Lowe ◽  
Theodoros N. Teknos ◽  
Timothy M. Johnson ◽  
Carol R. Bradford

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