Merkel cell carcinoma of the auricle

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an uncommon cutaneous neoplasm which arises in adults with a peak incidence in the sixth and seventh decades. MCC most often arises in the head and neck area and extremities. Among head and neck primary sites, auricular MCC has proven to be rare and only 20 cases have been reported in the literature. Auricular MCC follows the same aggressive course as has been documented for MCC arising elsewhere: the tumor has a propensity for recurring locally and metastasizing to regional lymph nodes and distant sites. Location of MCC in the auricular regions does not appear to confer any survival advantage compared with MCC arising elsewhere. The mainstay of treatment is surgery, with attempts at complete surgical excision being of paramount importance. What role regional node dissection, radiation therapy and chemotherapy may play in the standard treatment of auricular MCC remains to be clearly established.