A case report of recurrent Merkel cell carcinoma with synchronous metastases to the heart and stomach

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive, rare neuroendocrine skin cancer. MCC metastasis to the heart is exceedingly rare and gastric metastases from MCC have rarely been reported. We described the case of an 82-year-old man diagnosed with recurrent MCC with cardiac and gastric metastasis who p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medicine (Baltimore) 2018-11, Vol.97 (44), p.e13032-e13032
Main Authors: Ha, Joo Young, Park, Song Ee, Kim, Hee Sung, Won, Hoyoun, Kim, Beom Jin, Hwang, In Gyu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged, 80 and over
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell - pathology
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell - therapy
Clinical Case Report
Fluoroscopy
Heart Neoplasms - secondary
Humans
Image-Guided Biopsy
Male
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
Skin Neoplasms - pathology
Skin Neoplasms - therapy
Stomach - pathology
Stomach Neoplasms - secondary
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Summary:Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive, rare neuroendocrine skin cancer. MCC metastasis to the heart is exceedingly rare and gastric metastases from MCC have rarely been reported. We described the case of an 82-year-old man diagnosed with recurrent MCC with cardiac and gastric metastasis who presented with poor oral intake and severe weight loss. The patient was diagnosed with MCC 3 years ago and treated with surgical resection and radiation. We performed stomach biopsy in edematous lesion. And fluoroscopy and ultrasound guided biopsy of the cardiac mass was performed. MCC with synchronous metastases to the heart and stomach. The primary lesion had complete resolution and the patient remained disease free on regular follow-up every 6 months for 2 and half years. After MCC recurred, palliative anti-cancer therapy was considered but could not be performed due to the patient's poor performance status involved elderly, combined recurrent pneumonia. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of synchronous cardiac and gastric metastasis from cutaneous MCC worldwide. Although uncommon, MCC should be considered in clinical cases of synchronous metastasis.
ISSN:0025-7974
1536-5964
DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000013032