Radiotherapy as an adjunct in the management of merkel cell carcinoma

Abstract

Four patients with a diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma initially underwent surgery followed by radiotherapy. Recurrent disease prompted use of radiation in three cases. The three cases of recurrent disease illustrate the aggressiveness of Merkel cell carcinoma and also provide further documentation of the radiosensitivity of this tumor. Additionally, these cases suggest that surgery alone frequently is inadequate to achieve local control of disease.