Sentinel-node guided lymph-node dissection for Merkel cell carcinoma

N. Wasserberg, M. Feinmesser, J. Schachter, E. Fenig, H. Gutman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin tumour. Treatment is still debatable. Merkel cell carcinoma resembles malignant melanoma in its cutaneous presentation and its embryonic origin; both have unpredictable biological behaviour, early regional lymph node involvement, early distant metastases and a high recurrence rate. In light of these common features, we used pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy, intraoperative lymph-node mapping and sentinel-node biopsy - a well-described technique for the treatment of melanoma - in a 60-year-old man with Merkel cell carcinoma in the right buttock. Following frozen section identification of a metastatic first-order sentinel node, radical right groin dissection was performed. All the other lymph nodes in this basin proved to be disease-free, including the second-order sentinel node and Cloquet node. The patient is now being treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This case shows that sentinel-node guided dissection is applicable to Merkel cell carcinoma.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)444-446
Number of pages3
JournalEuropean Journal of Surgical Oncology
Volume25
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1999

Keywords

  • Lymph-node dissection
  • Merkel cell carcinoma
  • Neuroendocrine tumours
  • Sentinel node

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Sentinel-node guided lymph-node dissection for Merkel cell carcinoma'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this