Spontaneous regression of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin predominantly affecting elderly Caucasians. It has a high rate of local recurrence and regional lymph node metastases. It is associated with a poor prognosis. Complete spontaneous regression of Merkel cell carcinoma has...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Irish medical journal 2010-01, Vol.103 (1), p.21-22
Main Authors: Hassan, S J, Knox, M, Griffin, M, Kennedy, M J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biopsy
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell - diagnostic imaging
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell - pathology
Female
Groin
Humans
Lymph Nodes - pathology
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous - pathology
Skin Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging
Skin Neoplasms - pathology
Tomography, Emission-Computed
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin predominantly affecting elderly Caucasians. It has a high rate of local recurrence and regional lymph node metastases. It is associated with a poor prognosis. Complete spontaneous regression of Merkel cell carcinoma has been reported but is a poorly understood phenomenon. Here we present a case of complete spontaneous regression of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma demonstrating a markedly different pattern of events from those previously published.
ISSN:0332-3102