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Merkel cell carcinoma: Preparing to go the distance
M Arumugam1, A Jamil, R A Amiseno
1Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. mohan@ppukm.ukm.edu.my.
Introduction:
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy of the skin, with poor clinical outcomes. Typical conditions include a rapidly growing, solitary dome-shaped, violaceous nodule. Several root causes have been identified - sun exposure, age, lighter skin, immunocompromised state, and polyomavirus infection. Wide local excision is the best treatment. The tumour is radiotherapy-responsive. However, the success rate of the treatment with chemotherapy is rather limited. Immunotherapy has shown promising results. Early detection is important to prevent morbidity and mortality.
Case Report:
In this literature work, we reported on a particular case of MCC, as exhibited by an 84-year-old Chinese woman, and discussed the clinical features and management of MCC.
Discussion:
We highlighted that MCC cases have a link to the polyomavirus 5. Patients who were identified with the Polyomavirus 5, and underwent immunotherapy, were seen to depict much better prognosis.
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