Merkel cell carcinoma-A rare primary neuroendocrine skin tumor: case report and discussion

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive cutaneous primary small cell carcinoma with an unfavorable prognosis. It is a disease of the sun exposed skin of the elderly commonly involving the head, neck, and extremities. Though most cases present as localized disease, treatment should be definitive with wide excision of the primary lesion (2-3 cm margin) and prophylactic lymphadenectomy followed by irradiation to the primary site. Even when locoregional control is achieved, close surveillance is required due to high rates of local and systemic relapses. Chemotherapy is preserved for systemic disease, though the success of this treatment is limited and no chemotherapy protocol has been shown to improve survival.