Scottish Consensus Clinical Management Guidelines for Merkel cell cancer.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Public Health

Background:

• Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer with high mortality and rising incidence.
• Existing international guidelines for MCC are outdated and lack UK-specific recommendations for the National Health Service (NHS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop the first UK-specific clinical management guidelines for Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) tailored for NHS Scotland.
• To address the gap in current guidelines by incorporating recent advancements in MCC treatment and management.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary team of experts from NHS Scotland developed the guidelines.
• Consultations included oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, and dermatologists, with input from the Scottish Clinical Imaging Network.
• The development process was aligned with the RIGHT checklist for guideline development.

Main Results:

• The Scottish Consensus Clinical Management Guidelines for MCC were finalized and approved in March 2025.
• Guidelines recommend initiating MCC treatment within 8 weeks of diagnosis.
• The guidelines are accessible within NHS Scotland through local cancer networks.

Conclusions:

• These guidelines represent the first UK-based, NHS-specific recommendations for MCC management.
• The guidelines aim to enhance the multidisciplinary approach to MCC care in Scotland.
• Prompt treatment initiation is recommended to improve patient outcomes for MCC.