MERKEL CELL-CARCINOMA OF THE SKIN - TREATMENT OF PRIMARY, RECURRENT, AND METASTATIC DISEASE - REVIEW OF CLINICAL CASES

The clinical features of la cases with rite adjunct of a literature re view of primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin (Merkel cell tumo r) are reported. This cancer arises in the dermis and subcutaneous tis sue of elderly individuals. Natural history is characterized by local recurrences (40%), regional lymphnodes metastases (50%), and distant m etastases (60%). Surgery is the elective treatment of primary and loco regional disease and subsequent radiotherapy prevents local recurrence s and prolong disease-free survival in literature reports. Chemotherap y and radiotherapy resulted in only a short-term palliative response i n the metastatic setting.