scholarly journals Parotid gland metastasis in Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck: A series of 14 cases

2016 ◽  
Vol 95 (9) ◽  
pp. 398-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine E. Day ◽  
William R. Carroll ◽  
Eben L. Rosenthal
Keyword(s):  
Lymph Node ◽  
Parotid Gland ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Neck Dissection ◽  
Merkel Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Unknown Primary ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Merkel Cell

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare cutaneous cancer of neuroendocrine cell origin that occurs frequently on the head and neck. With a high incidence of local recurrence and regional and distant metastasis, it carries a poor prognosis. We performed a retrospective study to determine the prognostic implications of parotid gland metastasis in MCC of the head and neck. Our study population was made up of 14 patients—13 men and 1 woman, aged 62 to 87 years (mean: 75.9)—who underwent a parotidectomy for the diagnosis of MCC over a period of 10 years and 9 months. Ten patients had a primary skin lesion of the head and neck and 4 presented with a parotid mass and an unknown primary. In all, 13 of the 14 patients were found to have parotid involvement—either a direct extension of MCC into the gland or a positive intraparotid lymph node; some patients had both. All patients underwent tumor excision, and 10 underwent neck dissection. Eleven patients received adjuvant radiotherapy; none received adjuvant chemotherapy. Of the 10 patients who underwent a neck dissection, 6 were found to have a cervical lymph node metastasis on pathologic examination. Follow-up ranged from 1.3 to 39.2 months (mean: 12.4). Three patients were lost to follow-up shortly after surgery, although some information was available on 2 of them. At the final follow-up, mortality data were available on 12 patients; of these, 11 had died. The lone survivor was the patient without a parotid metastasis. Among those known to have died, survival ranged from 1.6 to 49.2 months (mean: 16.0). We conclude that parotid metastasis in patients with MCC of the head and neck is associated with a dismal survival rate that is even worse than the poor survival associated with cervical node involvement.

scholarly journals Merkel cell carcinoma of lymph node with unknown primary has a significantly lower association with Merkel cell polyomavirus than its cutaneous counterpart

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 1182-1192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zenggang Pan ◽  
Yuan-Yuan Chen ◽  
Xiaojun Wu ◽  
Vijay Trisal ◽  
Sharon P Wilczynski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lymph Node ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Merkel Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Merkel Cell Polyomavirus ◽  
Unknown Primary ◽  
Merkel Cell

Merkel cell carcinoma of unknown primary site

2007 ◽  
Vol 121 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Nazarian ◽  
B Shalmon ◽  
Z Horowitz ◽  
L Bedrin ◽  
M R Pfeffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Merkel Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Distant Metastases ◽  
Primary Site ◽  
Unknown Primary ◽  
Merkel Cell ◽  
Unknown Primary Site ◽  
Carcinoma Of Unknown Primary ◽  
Skin Malignancy

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.

Is Merkel Cell Carcinoma of Lymph Node Actually Metastatic Cutaneous Merkel Cell Carcinoma?

2020 ◽  
Vol 154 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-380
Author(s):  
Lauren E B Lawrence ◽  
Atif Saleem ◽  
Malaya K Sahoo ◽  
Susanna K Tan ◽  
Benjamin A Pinsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lymph Node ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Merkel Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Neuroendocrine Carcinoma ◽  
Unknown Primary ◽  
Merkel Cell ◽  
Mutational Signature ◽  
Panel Methods ◽  
Whole Exome ◽  
Primary Lymph Node

Abstract Objectives The possibility of a so-called primary lymph node neuroendocrine carcinoma has been described in the literature. Here we evaluate cases fitting such a diagnosis and find that the cases demonstrate a convincing and pervasive pattern consistent with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma. Methods Six cases of primary lymph node Merkel cell carcinoma and one case of metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma at a bony site, all with unknown primary, were sequenced using a combination of whole-exome and targeted panel methods. Sequencing results were analyzed for the presence of an ultraviolet (UV) mutational signature or off-target detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Results Four of six primary lymph node cases were positive for a UV mutational signature, with the remaining two cases positive for off-target alignment of MCPyV. One case of neuroendocrine carcinoma occurring at a bony site was also positive for a UV mutational signature. Conclusions We find no evidence to corroborate the existence of so-called primary Merkel cell carcinoma of lymph node.

scholarly journals Reliability of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Regional Staging of Head and Neck Merkel Cell Carcinoma

2005 ◽  
Vol 131 (7) ◽  
pp. 610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecelia E. Schmalbach ◽  
Lori Lowe ◽  
Theodoros N. Teknos ◽  
Timothy M. Johnson ◽  
Carol R. Bradford
Keyword(s):  
Lymph Node ◽  
Sentinel Lymph Node ◽  
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Merkel Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Lymph Node Biopsy ◽  
Merkel Cell ◽  
Node Biopsy

Merkel cell carcinoma of the inguinal lymph node with an unknown primary site

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun Jung KIM ◽  
Hei Sung KIM ◽  
Hyung Ok KIM ◽  
Chan Kwon JUNG ◽  
Yoon-Ho KO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lymph Node ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Merkel Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Inguinal Lymph Node ◽  
Primary Site ◽  
Unknown Primary ◽  
Merkel Cell ◽  
Unknown Primary Site

Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

2021 ◽  
pp. 229255032110319
Author(s):  
Frances-Claire Eichorn ◽  
Arbind Dubey ◽  
Kumar Alok Pathak
Keyword(s):  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Merkel Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Stage I ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Merkel Cell ◽  
Disease Free ◽  
Disease Specific

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the head and neck is a rare and aggressive non-melanoma skin cancer. The objective of this study was to assess the oncological outcome of MCC by retrospective review of electronic and paper records of a population-based cohort of 17 consecutive cases of the head and neck MCC without distant metastasis, diagnosed in Manitoba between 2004 and 2016. The average age of the patients at initial presentation was 74.1 ± 14.4 years with 6 patients presenting with stage I, 4 with stage II, and 7 with stage III disease. Both surgery or radiotherapy alone were the primary treatment modalities in 4 patients each and the remaining 9 patients had a combination of surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy. During the median follow-up of 52 months, 8 patients had recurrent/residual disease and 7 eventually died of it ( P = .001). Metastatic spread of disease to the regional lymph nodes was observed in 11 patients either at presentation or during the follow-up and to the distant sites in 3 patients. At the time of the last contact on November 30, 2020, 4 patients were alive and disease-free, 7 had died of disease, and 6 had died of other causes. The case fatality rate was 41.2%. Five-year disease-free and disease-specific survivals were 51.8% and 59.7%, respectively. The 5-year disease-specific survival was 75% for early stage MCC (stage I and II) and 35.7% for stage III MCC. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for disease control and improving survival.

scholarly journals Secondary Merkel Cell Carcinoma Manifested in the Parotid

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
M. Basati ◽  
K. Kassam ◽  
A. Messiha
Keyword(s):  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Merkel Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Maxillofacial Surgery ◽  
Neck Region ◽  
Surgical Excision ◽  
Malignant Tumour ◽  
Selective Neck Dissection ◽  
Merkel Cell

Background. Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck is a rare and aggressive malignant tumour. Both the dermatological and surgical colleagues should be aware of this entity as lesions usually present on sun exposed areas of the skin such as the head and neck.Main Observation and Treatment. A 69-year-old male originally presented to the maxillofacial surgery department with a growing lesion on the left eyebrow. Histological analysis confirmed Merkel cell carcinoma and consequently surgical excision was carried out. A follow-up PET/CT scan 2 years later demonstrated a hotspot in the left parotid gland. Fine needle aspiration and cytology revealed Merkel cell carcinoma. A subtotal parotidectomy left side with ipsilateral selective neck dissection levels I to III was carried out.Conclusions. Potential secondary Merkel cell carcinoma in the head and neck region should be taken into account when planning short- and long-term follow up for previously diagnosed patients. This followup should involve both dermatological and surgical colleagues.

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