Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Acute iliofemoral thrombosis secondary to Merkel cell carcinoma compressing the inferior vena cava

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
International Journal of Angiology

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive small cell neoplasm of the skin characterized by neuroendocrine differentiation. It most commonly involves the head and neck of elderly Caucasians. We present a patient with MCC of the buttock, who 32 months after primary surgery and 18 months after combined chemoradiotherapy developed retroperitoneal metastases causing inferior vena cava (IVC) compression and lower extremity thrombosis. He received anticoagulants, but died 2 months later. This is the first report of MCC causing IVC compression and iliofemoral venous thrombosis. This case illustrates the precarious natural history of this tumor and the controversies that surround its treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Toker C (1972) Trabecular carcinoma of the skin. Arch Dermatol 105:107–110.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Pitale M, Sessions RB, Husain S (1992) An analysis of prognostic factors in cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma. Laryngoscope 102:244–249.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Sibley RK, Dehner LP, Rosai J (1985) Primary neuroendocrine (Merkel cell?) carcinoma of the skin. I. A clinicopathologic and ultrastructural study of 43 cases. Am J Surg Pathol 9:95–108.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Hitchcok CL, Bland KI, Laney RG, et al. (1988) Neuroendocrine (Merkel cell) carcinoma of the skin. Its natural history, diagnosis and treatment. Ann Surg 207:201–207.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Johansson L, Tennvall J, Akerman M (1990) Immunohistochemical examination of 25 cases of Merkel cell carcinoma: A comparison with small cell carcinoma of the lung and oesophagus and a review of the literature. APMIS 98:741–752.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ratner D, Nelson BR, Brown MD, Johnson TM (1993) Merkel cell carcinoma. J Am Acad Dermatol 29:143–156.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Routh A, Hickman BT, Johnson WW (1987) Superior vena cava obstruction from Merkel cell carcinoma. Arch Dermatol 123:714–716.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Azagury M, Chevallier B, Atlan D, et al. (1993) VP-16, cisplatin, doxorubicin and bleomycin in metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma. Report of a case with long-term remission. Am J Clin Oncol 16:102–104.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Tenvall J, Biorklund A, Johansson L, Akerman M (1989) Merkel cell carcinoma. A management of primary, recurrent and metastatic disease. A clinicopathologic study of 17 patients. Eur J Surg Oncol 15:1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Crown J, Lipztein R, Cohen S, et al. (1991) Chemotherapy of metastatic Merkel cell cancer. Cancer Invest 9:129–132.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Duncan WC, Tschen JA (1993) Spontaneous regression of Merkel cell (neuroendocrine) carcinoma of the skin. J Am Acad Dermatol 29:653–654.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Pilotti S, Rilke F, Bartoli C, Grisotti A (1988) Clinicopathologic correlations of cutaneous neuroendocrine Merkel cell carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 6:1863–1873.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Silva EG, Mackay B, Goepfert H, et al. (1984) Endocrine carcinoma of the skin (Merkel cell carcinoma). Pathol Ann 19:1–30.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Goepfert H, Remmler D, Silva E, Wheeler B (1984) Merkel cell carcinoma (endocrine carcinoma of the skin) of the head and neck. Arch Otolaryngol 110:707–712.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Raaf JH, Urmacher C, Knapper WK, et al. (1986) Trabecular (Merkel cell) carcinoma of the skin. Treatment of primary, recurrent, and metastatic disease. Cancer 57:178–182.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Meland NB, Jackson IT (1986) Merkel cell tumor: Diagnosis, prognosis, and management. Plast Reconstr Surg 77:632–638.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Shaw JH, Rumball E (1991) Merkel cell tumor: Clinical behavior and treatment. Br J Surg 78:138–142.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Hasle H (1991) Merkel cell carcinoma: The role of primary treatment with radiotherapy. Clin Oncol 3:114–116.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Morrison WH, Peters LJ, Silva EG, et al. (1990) The essential role of radiation therapy in securing locoregional control of Merkel cell carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 19:583–591.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Cotlar AM, Gates JO, Gibbs FA (1986) Merkel cell carcinoma: Combined surgery and radiation therapy. Am Surg 52:159–164.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bielamowicz S, Smith D, Abemayo E (1994) Merkel cell carcinoma: An aggressive skin neoplasm. Laryngoscope 104:528–532.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Feun LG, Savaraj N, Legha SS, et al. (1988) Chemotherapy for metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma: A review of the MD Anderson Hospital's experience. Cancer 62:863–685.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Sharma D, Flora G, Grunberg SM (1991) Chemotherapy of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma: Case report and review of the literature. Am J Clin Oncol 14:166–169.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Fenig E, Lurie H, Klein B, Sulkes A (1993) The treatment of advanced Merkel cell carcinoma. A multimodality chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatment approach. J Dermatol Surg Oncol 19:860–864.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Pectasides D, Moutzourides G, Dimitriadis M, et al. (1995) Chemotherapy for Merkel cell carcinoma with carboplatin and etoposide. Am J Clin Oncol (CCT) 18:418–420.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Virginia Mason Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine and Section of Hematology/Oncology, Seattle, Washington

    David M. Aboulafia M.D.

  2. Section of Orthopedic Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

    Albert J. Aboulafia M.D.

  3. Michigan State University (C.O.M.) and Departments of Medicine and Surgery, Sinai Hospital of Detroit, Detroit, Michigan

    Elie D. Aboulafia M.D. (F.I.C.A.)

Authors
  1. David M. Aboulafia M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Albert J. Aboulafia M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Elie D. Aboulafia M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Aboulafia, D.M., Aboulafia, A.J. & Aboulafia, E.D. Acute iliofemoral thrombosis secondary to Merkel cell carcinoma compressing the inferior vena cava. International Journal of Angiology 6, 257–260 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01616223

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01616223

Keywords

Search

Navigation