Laparoscopic dissection of Merkel cell carcinoma recurrence at the pelvic lymph node

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. It has a high propensity for recurrence and metastasis, and there is no clearly defined treatment. MCC recurrence at the pelvic lymph node has rarely been reported. Herein, we report a patient with pelvic lymph node recurrence of MCC that was dissected laparoscopically. Nine years before presenting to us, a 76-year-old male patient had been diagnosed with MCC, and since then, he had had two recurrences. The most recent recurrence-the third recurrence-involved a tumor that had been detected at the right pelvic lymph node, and MCC recurrence was suspected after several imaging studies. Laparoscopic right pelvic lymph node dissection was conducted, and pathological findings confirmed MCC recurrence. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 8 and had no recurrence for 2 years as detected by imaging. This case report demonstrates the benefits of laparoscopic treatment of MCC recurrence with respect to intraoperative magnified vision and a more comfortable postoperative course for the patient.