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Updated: Oct 11, 2025
A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model
Published on: May 18, 2018
Merkel cell carcinoma in situ: A systematic review of prognosis and management
Kelvin Truong1,2, Simone M Goldinger1, Shaun Chou3
1Department of Dermatology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Background:
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare primary cutaneous neuroendocrine tumour. While dermally invasive MCC is known to have a five-year survival of only 30-40%, the prognosis and management of MCC in situ (MCCis) is not widely reported.
Objective:
We present a systematic review to elucidate the prognosis and management of MCCis.
Methods:
We performed a systematic review, searching three databases to 01 June 2021. Case reports, cohort studies, clinical trials and literature reviews were considered for inclusion.
Results:
We identified 26 cases of MCCis published in the literature with a median age of 74 years and involving 19 males and 7 females. Most cases were on the face and neck (n = 17), followed by upper limb (n = 8) and lower limb (n = 1). Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in three patients, and all were negative. One subject underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. No MCCis-associated deaths were reported.
Conclusion:
This review suggests that MCCis has an excellent prognosis with minimal, if any, risk of mortality and a very low risk of dermal invasion and recurrence when treated with wide local excision alone. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is unlikely to be useful for MCCis.
