Merkel cell Carcinoma

This is a rare condition. It is seldom diagnosed clinically. We are still working out the best way to treat it. A combined approach with wide excision and radiotherapy done immediately after the excision appears to be the best approach.

Radiotherapy for localised and advanced Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin: a single institution case series

European Journal of Dermatology. Volume 17, Number 3, 229-33, May-June 2007, Therapy


Author(s) : Falk Roeder, Robert Krempien, Florian Sterzing, Angela Funk, Martina Treiber, Jürgen Debus, Marc Bischof

Summary : Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare malignant tumour of the skin with a tendency to rapid local progression, frequent spread to regional lymph nodes and distant metastases. We report results with radiotherapy in the treatment of MCC.Thirty-nine patients with histologically proven MCC were treated. Fifteen patients had stage I disease (12 primary, 3 recurrent tumours). Twenty-one patients had stage II disease (10 primary, 11 recurrent tumours). Thirty patients were treated with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. Six patients with inoperable disease received radiotherapy alone. Three patients in stage III with distant metastases were treated with palliative radiotherapy.For stage I patients, 3-year loco-regional control (LC), disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 90%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. For stage II patients, LC, DSS, and OS were 78%, 55%, and 29%, respectively. LC did not differ significantly between stage I and II patients. But, patients presented to radiotherapy directly after operation showed significantly improved LC compared to patients referred in recurrent situation (p \= 0.039). Two of six inoperable patients treated with radiotherapy alone relapsed locally.In the current study, surgery and immediate adjuvant radiotherapy resulted in strong loco-regional control. Radiotherapy alone is suggested only in inoperable or metastatic MCC.