IS AGGRESSIVE SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT JUSTIFIED IN THE TREATMENT OF MERKEL CELL-CARCINOMA

Since its original description in 1972, we have seen and personally tr eated a group of 15 patients with Merkel cell carcinoma at the Vanderb ilt Medical Center and the Nashville VA Hospital. We will review the d emographics, management, and clinical course of this extremely lethal but initially benign appearing cutaneous malignancy. The majority of l esions occur on the head and neck, followed by the extremities and tru nk. Location of the primary tumor has no effect on outcome. Despite a high mortality in our series (10 of 15), early recognition and aggress ive surgical therapy may be the only was to prolong survival. No other adjuvant therapy has proved effective.