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Published on: February 7, 2019
Recurrence of Merkel cell carcinoma in the gastrointestinal tract: a case report
Rasikh Tuktamyshov1, Dhanpat Jain2, Philip M Ginsburg3
1Yale New Haven Hospital, 1450 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA. rasikh.tuktamyshov@ynhh.org.
Background:
Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive skin malignancy that arises from primary neural cells and has a tendency for local recurrence and regional lymph node metastases. There are only a few cases in the literature reporting metastases of Merkel cell carcinoma to the gastrointestinal tract.
Case Presentation:
We present a 70 year old Caucasian female with distant history of Merkel cell carcinoma who presented with iron-deficiency anemia. Colonoscopy performed later for the evaluation of anemia revealed 1 cm polyp in ascending colon which turned out to be the recurrence of Merkel cell carcinoma.
Conclusion:
Metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma to the gastrointestinal tract or any other organ should be considered in patients with a history of Merkel cell carcinoma.
