Surgical Management of Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Miriam Lango; Yelizaveta Shnayder

doi:10.1016/j.otc.2020.11.008

Surgical Management of Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2021 Apr;54(2):357-368. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2020.11.008. Epub 2021 Feb 15.

Authors

Miriam Lango¹, Yelizaveta Shnayder²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: MNLango@mdanderson.org.
² Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.

PMID: 33602514
DOI: 10.1016/j.otc.2020.11.008

Abstract

The incidence of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) continues to increase. Understanding of MCC biology has advanced rapidly, with current staging providing valuable prognostic information. MCC treatment often is multidisciplinary. Surgery remains an important component in the staging and treatment, most commonly involving wide excision of the cancer and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Lymphadenectomy is used to treat nodal disease. Radiotherapy enhances locoregional control and possibly survival. Systemic therapies, in particular novel immunotherapies, may be promising in the treatment of advanced or recurrent and metastatic disease.

Keywords: Adjuvant radiation; Lymph node metastases; Merkel cell carcinoma surgery; Sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Carcinoma, Merkel Cell* / pathology
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell* / surgery
Humans
Lymph Node Excision
Lymphatic Metastasis
Neoplasm Staging
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
Skin Neoplasms* / surgery