TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Merkel Cell Carcinoma A1 - McEvoy, Aubriana A1 - Nghiem, Paul A2 - Kang, Sewon A2 - Amagai, Masayuki A2 - Bruckner, Anna L. A2 - Enk, Alexander H. A2 - Margolis, David J. A2 - McMichael, Amy J. A2 - Orringer, Jeffrey S. Y1 - 2019 N1 - T2 - Fitzpatrick's Dermatology, 9e AB - AT-A-GLANCEThe risk of death from Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is 2 to 3 times higher than from melanoma.Reported incidence of MCC quadrupled from 1986 to 2006.Risk factors for MCC include advanced age, immune suppression, and fair skin.Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is integrated in 80% of MCC cases.Consider MCC in the differential diagnosis of any rapidly growing, nontender nodule on a sun-exposed area.Management is challenging as therapy is unique and controversial.Sentinel lymph node biopsy, surgery, and radiation are indicated in many cases.Imaging (CT, MRI, positron emission tomography) has poor sensitivity and specificity in early stages of MCC, but can be useful in assessment of and surveillance for metastatic disease.MCC is an especially radiosensitive tumor. Adjuvant radiation therapy is highly effective, and overaggressive surgery should be avoided. Radiation monotherapy is an important and effective option for managing disease in patients who are not candidates for surgery.Immune therapies, including checkpoint inhibition and T-cell therapies are now the treatment of choice for advanced disease.Chemotherapy has very limited utility in treating MCC, and adjuvant chemotherapy is not beneficial. Adjuvant immune therapy is an area of new research.Optimal care includes multidisciplinary coordination between dermatologists, surgeons, radiologists, and medical oncologists with reference to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/20 UR - dermatology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1161335584 ER -