Merkel cell carcinoma: a review.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Pathology

Background:

• Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive skin cancer with increasing incidence and high mortality.
• Etiology is multifactorial, involving UV radiation, immunosuppression, and Merkel cell polyomavirus.
• Clinical presentation is often non-specific, typically appearing as a rapidly growing lesion on the head and neck.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and discuss current knowledge on Merkel cell carcinoma.
• To highlight diagnostic and staging requirements.
• To discuss current treatment modalities and future therapeutic perspectives.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on Merkel cell carcinoma.
• Discussion of clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical diagnostic criteria.
• Analysis of staging procedures and treatment strategies.

Main Results:

• Diagnosis relies on histological and immunohistochemical findings due to non-specific clinical presentation.
• Staging requires evaluation for regional and distant metastases.
• Multidisciplinary management, including aggressive surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy, is standard, but optimal therapy remains debated due to limited data.

Conclusions:

• High-quality, multicentre, randomized studies are needed to establish optimal treatment protocols.
• Targeted therapies offer potential future treatment avenues for MCC patients.
• Current management focuses on multidisciplinary approaches combining surgery and radiotherapy.