Background: Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive skin cancer that most commonly occurs in UV-exposed body sites. Its epidemiology in different geographies and populations is not well characterised.
Objective: The objective of this systematic review is to summarize evidence on the incidence, mortality, and survival rates of MCC from population-based studies.
Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from database inception to June 6th, 2023. No geographic, age or date exclusions were applied. We included population-based studies of MCC that reported the incidence, survival, or mortality rate, and considered systematic reviews. A data-charting form was created and validated to identify variables to extract. Two reviewers then independently charted the data for each included study with patient characteristics, and estimates of incidence rate, mortality rate, and survival rate and assessed the quality of included studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for Prevalence studies, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews. We abstracted age-, sex-, stage- and race-stratified outcomes, and synthesized comparisons between strata narratively and using vote counting. We assessed the certainty of evidence for those comparisons using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessments, Developments and Evaluations framework.
Results: We identified 11,472 citations, of which 52 studies from 24 countries met our inclusion criteria. Stage 1 and the head and neck were the most frequently reported stage and location at diagnosis. The incidence of MCC is increasing over time (high certainty), with the highest reported incidences reported in Southern hemisphere countries (Australia [2.5 per 100,000], New Zealand [0.96 per 100,000]) (high certainty). Male patients generally had higher incidence rates compared to female patients (high certainty), although there were some variations over time periods. Survival rates varied, with lower survival and/or higher mortality associated with male sex (moderate certainty), higher stage at diagnosis (moderate-to-high certainty), older age (moderate certainty), and immunosuppression (low-to-moderate certainty).
Conclusions: MCC is increasing in incidence and may increase further given the ageing population of many countries. The prognosis of MCC is poor, particularly for males, those who are immunosuppressed, and patients diagnosed at higher stages or at an older age.
© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Association of Dermatologists.