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Query: UMLS:C0025202 (melanoma)
 69,561 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Clinically diagnosed metastasis to the thyroid gland is exceptionally rare and may present diagnostic issues on fine needle aspiration. The most common primary sites of metastases to the thyroid are cancers of the lung, breast, skin (especially melanoma), colon, and kidney. Herein, we report a case of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma to the thyroid presenting as a 2.1-cm solid nodule in a 50-year-old male with a previous history of Merkel cell carcinoma of the upper extremity. The aspirates were moderately to highly cellular featuring small to intermediate sized cells with scant to no cytoplasm, round-to-oval nuclei with finely dispersed chromatin, and predominantly arranged as scattered single cells. There was focal nuclear molding, numerous mitoses, and karyorrhectic nuclei. The differential diagnosis centered on the "small round blue cell" tumor group such as medullary thyroid carcinoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However, in light of our patient's previous history, the FNA findings were most consistent with a metastasis of Merkel cell carcinoma. In patients with a known history of a primary neoplasm, the differential diagnosis of a thyroid nodule should always include potential metastasis.
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PMID:Merkel cell carcinoma metastatic to the thyroid gland: Aspiration findings and differential diagnosis. 2008 38

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a neuroendocrine skin cancer with a higher propensity for recurrence and metastasis than melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Despite aggressive behavior and the tripling of its reported incidence in the past 20 years, there is extensive confusion about how MCC should be managed. Here we address two issues that have impeded optimal MCC management: lack of a consensus staging system and lack of unique diagnostic codes for MCC. Five conflicting systems currently used to stage MCC will be replaced by one system in 2010 that will diminish confusion about prognosis and management among physicians and patients. The diagnostic bundling of MCC with numerous less aggressive skin cancers leads to care refusals by insurance and an inability to track MCC care costs. Worldwide adoption in 2009 of specific diagnostic codes for MCC will also improve understanding and management of this often-lethal skin cancer.
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PMID:Toward better management of merkel cell carcinoma using a consensus staging system, new diagnostic codes and a recently discovered virus. 2009 62

Transplant recipients are at significantly increased risk of cancer development as a long term complication. Skin cancer is the most common cancer, representing 40-50% of post transplant malignancies. In the first 10 years post transplantation, some 15%-40% of patients develop skin cancer, primarily squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, but also melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and virally-induced Kaposi sarcoma. The management of skin cancer includes secondary prophylaxis and address attention to areas of widespread actinic damage, usually with topical agents. In high risk skin cancer or metastatic disease a substantial reduction in immunosuppression to switching to mTOR inhibitors appears to substantially improve the prognosis. The management of the individual tumor types is discussed; in general it follows the current guidelines.
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PMID:[Skin cancer in organ transplant patients. Epidemiology and management]. 2014 2

Skin cancers occur more frequently in solid organ transplant recipients relative to the general population. Transplant recipients are at particularly high risk of squamous cell carcinoma, with up to a 100-fold increase in the relative risk when compared to the nontransplanted population. This compares with a 10- to 16-fold increase in basal cell carcinoma for renal transplant recipients. An increased incidence of melanoma in transplant patients has also been reported. Other types of skin cancer associated with immunosuppression in transplant patients include Kaposi sarcoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder. This review discusses the epidemiology and pertinent pathologic features of each of these tumors. A brief clinical management strategy is outlined. In addition, the contribution of viral induced carcinogenesis with respect to Kaposi sarcoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder is discussed.
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PMID:Dermatopathology of skin cancer in solid organ transplant recipients. 2070 18

In the seventh edition of the TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours there are several entirely new classifications: upper aerodigestive mucosal melanoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumour, gastrointestinal carcinoid (neuroendocrine tumour), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, uterine sarcomas, and adrenal cortical carcinoma. Significant modifications concern carcinomas of the oesophagus, oesophagogastric junction, stomach, appendix, biliary tract, lung, skin, prostate and ophthalmic tumours, which will be not addressed in this article. For several tumour entities only minor changes were introduced which might be of importance in daily practice. The new classifications and changes will be commented on without going into details.
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PMID:[TNM 2010. What's new?]. 2073 51

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare tumour of the skin. It affects predominantly elderly Caucasian males on sun-exposed areas of the skin. Distinctively more frequent and at significantly lower age, its incidence is higher in immunocompromised patients. In these patients we often observe the highly aggressive course of Merkel cell carcinoma and a fatal outcome. The incidence of Merkel cell carcinoma has been rising in recent years and is more dramatic than the increased incidence of cutaneous melanoma. More than one-third of Merkel cell carcinoma patients will die from this cancer, making it twice as lethal as melanoma. The malignant transformation of Merkel cells is currently thought to be related to an infection with Merkel cell polyomavirus. In the early stage the discreet clinical picture may be contrary to extensive microscopic invasion and this seemingly benign appearance can delay diagnosis or increase the risk of insufficient tumour excision. The diagnosis is definitely confirmed by histological evaluation and immunohistochemical tests. A typical feature is the tendency of Merkel cell carcinoma to frequent local recurrence and early metastasizing into regional lymph nodes with subsequent tumour generalization. The mainstay of therapy is radical excision of the tumour and adjuvant radiotherapy targeted at the site of primary incidence and local draining lymph nodes. The efficacy of different chemotherapy protocols in Merkel cell carcinoma is limited and the median survival rate is measured in months. In the future, prophylaxis with vaccination against Merkel cell polyomavirus will hopefully be possible in high-risk patients, as well as therapeutic usage of antisense oligonucleotides or microRNAs, eventually complete Merkel cell carcinoma elimination by affecting the tumour suppressor gene Atonal homolog 1 expression. The staging of the tumour at time of diagnosis is the most important prognostic factor. In this respect, the importance of preventative skin inspection in high-risk immunocompromised patients must be stressed and suitable therapy must be indicated in suspected lesions.
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PMID:[Merkel cell skin carcinoma]. 2080 18

Sebaceous carcinoma is a rare cutaneous malignancy that is most frequently found in the eyelids with an estimated risk of regional lymph node metastasis in the 8% to 14% range. The authors have previously reported the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy and microscopically positive sentinel lymph nodes in various eyelid and conjunctival cancers, including conjunctival and eyelid melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma. The authors herein describe the first successful identification of a microscopically positive sentinel lymph node in a patient with sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelid, suggesting that sentinel lymph node biopsy for sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelid deserves further investigation.
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PMID:Positive sentinel node in sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelid. 2094 Jun 61

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, highly aggressive neuroendocrine cutaneous neoplasm with a variable clinical presentation. Histologically, it is a predominantly dermal-based lesion composed of monotonous small round cells with scanty cytoplasm, often difficult to differentiate from small round cell tumors, metastatic small cell carcinoma, blastic hematologic malignancies, and melanoma. The malignant cells express both epithelial and neuroendocrine immunohistochemical markers, a unique feature that helps differentiate this neoplasm from other entities. The pathogenesis of Merkel cell carcinoma has remained a mystery despite its association with various chromosomal abnormalities and with growth signaling and apoptotic pathways. The discovery of the Merkel cell polyomavirus suggests another clue to its pathogenesis. This virus integrates into band 3p14 and promotes carcinogenesis by altering the activity of tumor suppressor and cell cycle regulatory proteins. This discovery of the Merkel cell polyomavirus may greatly enhance our understanding of this rare aggressive neoplasm and allow further advancements in treatment.
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PMID:Merkel cell carcinoma. 2104 28

Immunosuppressive therapy associated with organ transplant leads to an increased risk to develop skin cancers. In such circumstances, squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas represent the most frequent tumors. Other neoplasms include malignant melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and Kaposi disease. Histopathology is primordial in the establishment of the diagnosis. In addition, bioengineering devices and skin imaging methods are useful in establishing the risk of cancers and for detecting incipient tumoral lesions.
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PMID:[How I explore...a skin tumor in a transplant patient]. 2128 66

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. Although it is 40 times less common than malignant melanoma, its mortality is much higher compared to melanoma. From 1986 to 2001 there was rapidly increasing incidence in reported cases of MCC, with a tripling in the rate over this 15-year period. The vast majority of MCC presents on sun-exposed skin. The head and neck area is the most common site of tumor occurrence. We present 70-year old female patient with painless red-colored nodule, size 2 x 2 x 2 cm on the dorsal side of mid left forearm. The surgical excision with negative margins was performed, and pathohistological analysis confirmed Merkel cell carcinoma. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was negative. In conclusion, as MCC is a very aggressive rare skin carcinoma with lethal outcome, it should be mandatory to perform biopsies of any suspected skin lesion.
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PMID:Merkel cell carcinoma: case report. 2130 45


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