RT Book, Section
A1 Tegeder, Andrew
A1 Afanasiev, Olga
A1 Nghiem, Paul
A2 Goldsmith, Lowell A.
A2 Katz, Stephen I.
A2 Gilchrest, Barbara A.
A2 Paller, Amy S.
A2 Leffell, David J.
A2 Wolff, Klaus
SR Print(0)
ID 56061397
T1 Chapter 120. Merkel Cell Carcinoma
T2 Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine, 8e
YR 2012
FD 2012
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-166904-7
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=56061397
RD 2024/09/11
AB |PrintMerkel  Cell  Carcinoma  at  a  GlanceLower  relative  survival  (54%)  than  melanoma  (91%)  at  5  years.Reported  incidence  quadrupled  from  1986  to  2006.Affects  elderly/whites/immunosuppressed  and  is  associated  with  a  newly  discovered  virus:  Merkel  cell  polyomavirus  (MCPyV).Consider  in  differential  diagnosis  of  any  rapidly  growing,  nontender  nodule  on  a  sun-exposed  area.Sentinel  lymph  node  biopsy,  surgery,  and  radiation  are  indicated  in  many  cases.Imaging  (computed  tomography/magnetic  resonance/positron  emission  tomography):  poor  sensitivity  and  specificity  at  time  of  diagnosis  and  in  early  stages.Management  is  challenging  as  therapy  is  unique  and  controversial.Avoid  overaggressive  surgery:  adjuvant  radiation  therapy  highly  effective.Adjuvant  chemotherapy:  high  morbidity,  no  proven  benefit.Optimal  care:  multidisciplinary  coordination  between  dermatologists,  surgeons,  radiation,  and  medical  oncologists  referring  to  National  Comprehensive  Cancer  Network  Guidelines.