Merkel cell (trabecular) carcinoma of skin treated by radiotherapy

Merkel cell tumour is a recently described aggressive primary neoplasm of the skin. It is commonly seen in the elderly, on the head and neck or extremities. Surgical excision is the recommended treatment, but local recurrence or dissemination is not an uncommon consequence of this form of therapy. Radiotherapy is usually used as a palliative treatment for metastatic disease. We present two patients, in one an extensive primary was controlled by superficial X-ray, in the other, lymph node metastases were controlled with radiotherapy after excision of the primary.