Arch Craniofac Surg.  2018 Sep;19(3):205-209. 10.7181/acfs.2018.01858.

Primary Merkel cell carcinoma of the earlobe in a young healthy man

• Ha NH
• Kim SK
• Shin YS
• Kim SM

• KMID: 2422465
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7181/acfs.2018.01858

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an uncommon neuroendocrine cutaneous tumor with poor prognosis. It has the high rate of recurrence, mortality, regional nodal involvement, and distant metastases. It is difficult to diagnose MCC because of its non-specific clinical findings. It usually occurs on sun-exposed areas of the skin, mostly at head and neck. There is a difference in the incidence and prognosis according to site in the head and neck. However, there is no consented site-specific diagnosis, treatment or follow-up protocol for MCC at the head and neck. We herein report a case of MCC arising in the right earlobe of an otherwise healthy young man who has been diagnosed early, thereby successfully treated. With our closed follow-up, there was no tumor recurrence or complication at 33 months after diagnosis.

Keyword

Merkel cell carcinoma; Metastasis; Neuroendocrine tumors

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Merkel Cell*
Diagnosis
Follow-Up Studies
Head
Incidence
Mortality
Neck
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Prognosis
Recurrence
Skin