Extensive central nervous system involvement in Merkel cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare malignant cutaneous neoplasm that is locally invasive and frequently metastasizes to lymph nodes, liver, lungs, bone and brain. The incidence of Merkel cell carcinoma has increased in the past three...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2011-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Case Reports |
| Online Access: | http://www.jmedicalcasereports.com/content/5/1/35 |
| _version_ | 1818146701174636544 |
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| author | Söderström Kristina Abul-Kasim Kasim Hallsten Lennart |
| author_facet | Söderström Kristina Abul-Kasim Kasim Hallsten Lennart |
| author_sort | Söderström Kristina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare malignant cutaneous neoplasm that is locally invasive and frequently metastasizes to lymph nodes, liver, lungs, bone and brain. The incidence of Merkel cell carcinoma has increased in the past three decades.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 65-year-old Caucasian man presented with a sudden onset of severe headache and a three-month history of balance disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large meningeal metastasis. The radiologic workup showed retroperitoneal and inguinal lymph node metastases. Biopsy of the inguinal lymph nodes showed metastases of Merkel cell carcinoma. Biopsy from three different suspected skin lesions revealed no Merkel cell carcinoma, and the primary site of Merkel cell carcinoma remained unknown. Leptomeningeal metastases, new axillary lymph node metastases, and intraspinal (epidural and intradural) metastases were detected within six, seven and eight months, respectively, from the start of symptoms despite treating the intracranial metastasis with gamma knife and the abdominal metastases with surgical dissection and external radiotherapy. This indicates the aggressive nature of the disease.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature of an intracranial meningeal metastasis of Merkel cell carcinoma treated with gamma knife and of intraspinal intradural metastases of Merkel cell carcinoma. Despite good initial response to radiotherapy, recurrence and occurrence of new metastases are common in Merkel cell carcinoma.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T12:23:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8886cd99e5324df8a2fed301dc98bc6c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1752-1947 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T12:23:32Z |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Case Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-8886cd99e5324df8a2fed301dc98bc6c2022-12-22T01:07:28ZengBMCJournal of Medical Case Reports1752-19472011-01-01513510.1186/1752-1947-5-35Extensive central nervous system involvement in Merkel cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literatureSöderström KristinaAbul-Kasim KasimHallsten Lennart<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare malignant cutaneous neoplasm that is locally invasive and frequently metastasizes to lymph nodes, liver, lungs, bone and brain. The incidence of Merkel cell carcinoma has increased in the past three decades.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 65-year-old Caucasian man presented with a sudden onset of severe headache and a three-month history of balance disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large meningeal metastasis. The radiologic workup showed retroperitoneal and inguinal lymph node metastases. Biopsy of the inguinal lymph nodes showed metastases of Merkel cell carcinoma. Biopsy from three different suspected skin lesions revealed no Merkel cell carcinoma, and the primary site of Merkel cell carcinoma remained unknown. Leptomeningeal metastases, new axillary lymph node metastases, and intraspinal (epidural and intradural) metastases were detected within six, seven and eight months, respectively, from the start of symptoms despite treating the intracranial metastasis with gamma knife and the abdominal metastases with surgical dissection and external radiotherapy. This indicates the aggressive nature of the disease.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature of an intracranial meningeal metastasis of Merkel cell carcinoma treated with gamma knife and of intraspinal intradural metastases of Merkel cell carcinoma. Despite good initial response to radiotherapy, recurrence and occurrence of new metastases are common in Merkel cell carcinoma.</p>http://www.jmedicalcasereports.com/content/5/1/35 |
| spellingShingle | Söderström Kristina Abul-Kasim Kasim Hallsten Lennart Extensive central nervous system involvement in Merkel cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature Journal of Medical Case Reports |
| title | Extensive central nervous system involvement in Merkel cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature |
| title_full | Extensive central nervous system involvement in Merkel cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature |
| title_fullStr | Extensive central nervous system involvement in Merkel cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature |
| title_full_unstemmed | Extensive central nervous system involvement in Merkel cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature |
| title_short | Extensive central nervous system involvement in Merkel cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature |
| title_sort | extensive central nervous system involvement in merkel cell carcinoma a case report and review of the literature |
| url | http://www.jmedicalcasereports.com/content/5/1/35 |
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