Published in:
Open Access
01-03-2011 | Clinical Study - Patient Studies
Clinical emergence of neurometastatic merkel cell carcinoma: a surgical case series and literature review
Authors:
Thomasina L. Bailey, Maxwell A. Fung, Regina Gandour-Edwards, William G. Ellis, Rudolph J. Schrot
Published in:
Journal of Neuro-Oncology
|
Issue 1/2011
Login to get access
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare cutaneous neuroendocrine neoplasm of possible viral origin and is known for its aggressive behavior. The incidence of MCC has increased in the last 15 years. Merkel cell carcinoma has the potential to metastasize, but rarely involves the central nervous system. Herein, we report three consecutive surgical cases of MCC presenting at a single institution within 1 year. We used intracavitary BCNU wafers (Gliadel®) in two cases. Pathological features, including CK20 positivity, consistent with MCC, were present in all cases. We found 33 published cases of MCC with CNS involvement. We suggest that the incidence of neurometastatic MCC may be increasing, parallel to the increasing incidence of primary MCC. We propose a role for intracavitary BCNU wafers in the treatment of intra-axial neurometastatic MCC.