Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHOD: A retrospective review of 54 consecutive cases of head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma at a single institution. RESULTS: Median disease-specific survival time was 120 months. Forty-four per cent of patients developed locoregional recurrence. Combined treatment with surgery and locoregional radiotherapy improved diseasespecific survival. Radiotherapy was associated with longer time to recurrence and regional recurrence. Irradiation of the regional nodes improved regional control, irrespective of clinical status. Margin-negative excision was not associated with improved local control. Combined modality treatment of recurrent disease resulted in a four-fold improvement of local control, but small numbers prevented this trend from reaching statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Surgical excision of the primary disease and clinically involved regional nodes, plus adjuvant radiotherapy to the surgical bed and regional nodes are recommended for all patients with Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck, irrespective of clinical status. Recurrent disease should be aggressively treated with combined modality treatment.
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Authors | V Balakrishnan, S Berry, B Stew, A Sizeland |
Journal | The Journal of laryngology and otology
(J Laryngol Otol)
Vol. 127
Issue 9
Pg. 908-16
(Sep 2013)
ISSN: 1748-5460 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 23952972
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Topics |
- Aged
- Carcinoma, Merkel Cell
(radiotherapy, surgery, therapy)
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Disease-Free Survival
- Female
- Head and Neck Neoplasms
(radiotherapy, surgery, therapy)
- Humans
- Male
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
(radiotherapy, surgery)
- Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
- Retrospective Studies
- Skin Neoplasms
(radiotherapy, surgery, therapy)
- Treatment Outcome
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