BACKGROUND: We reviewed management of the cervical lymph nodes in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the head and neck. METHODS: Records of 15 patients with MCC of the head and neck area were evaluated for the type of surgical treatment, including wide local excision, sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, neck dissection, postoperative radiation therapy, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 24 months (range, 5-84 months). Ten patients were treated with wide local excision plus SLN, with or without neck dissection. Five patients were treated with wide local excision only or wide local excision plus neck dissection. One patient died of distant metastases (7%), and 14 patients remain alive (93%), over a mean follow-up of 24 months. CONCLUSION: Wide excision and SLN biopsy for primary MCC with N0 neck is feasible for early-stage, previously untreated lesions. SLN biopsy was helpful in determining the nodal levels to be dissected or irradiated. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
BACKGROUND: We reviewed management of the cervical lymph nodes in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the head and neck. METHODS: Records of 15 patients with MCC of the head and neck area were evaluated for the type of surgical treatment, including wide local excision, sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, neck dissection, postoperative radiation therapy, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 24 months (range, 5-84 months). Ten patients were treated with wide local excision plus SLN, with or without neck dissection. Five patients were treated with wide local excision only or wide local excision plus neck dissection. One patient died of distant metastases (7%), and 14 patients remain alive (93%), over a mean follow-up of 24 months. CONCLUSION: Wide excision and SLN biopsy for primary MCC with N0 neck is feasible for early-stage, previously untreated lesions. SLN biopsy was helpful in determining the nodal levels to be dissected or irradiated. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Authors: Kathrin Gessner; Gunnar Wichmann; Andreas Boehm; Anett Reiche; Julia Bertolini; Johannes Brus; Ina Sterker; Stefan Dietzsch; Andreas Dietz Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2010-08-27 Impact factor: 2.503
Authors: Jennifer L Schwartz; Kent A Griffith; Lori Lowe; Sandra L Wong; Scott A McLean; Douglas R Fullen; Christopher D Lao; James A Hayman; Carol R Bradford; Riley S Rees; Timothy M Johnson; Christopher K Bichakjian Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2011-02-07 Impact factor: 44.544