Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Sentinel lymph node mapping for patients with Merkel cell carcinoma—experience of 5 years

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, highly malignant carcinoma of the neuroendocrinological system (Bayrou et al., J Am Acad Dermatol 24:198–207, 1992). It is a fast-growing, aggressive tumor with a high rate of local recurrence and early metastases. A radical surgical procedure is the therapy of choice. In case of lymph node metastases, regional lymphadenectomy is mandatory. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping is a standard diagnostic technique to detect micrometastases in certain patients with malignant melanoma and breast cancer. The question is, can the SLN technique provide information as a prognostic factor and can the prognosis of the MCC be improved by detecting micrometastases in SLN at an early stage?

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Allen PJ, Zhang ZF, Coit DG (1999) Surgical management of Merkel cell carcinoma. Ann Surg 229:97–105

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bayrou O, Avril MF, Charpentier P et al (1992) Primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin: clinicopathological study of 18 cases. J Am Acad Dermatol 24:198–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bickle K, Glass LF, Messina JL, Fenske NA, Siegrist K (2004) Merkel cell carcinoma: a clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical review. Semin Cutan Med Surg 23(1):46–53

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bielamowicz S, Smith D, Abemayor E (1994) Merkel cell carcinoma: an aggressive skin neoplasm. Laryngoscope 104:528–532

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Blom A, Kolb F, Lumbroso J, Duvillard P, Mamelle G, Ricard M, Spatz A, Petrow P, Margulis A, Avril MF (2003) Significance of sentinel lymph node biopsy in Merkel cell carcinoma. Ann Dermatol Venereol 130(4):17–22

    Google Scholar 

  6. Brady MS (2004) Currant management of patients with Merkel cell carcinoma. Dermatol Surg 30:321–325

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Hill AD, Brady MS, Coit DG (1999) Intraoperative lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy for Merkel cell carcinoma. Br J Surg 86:518–521

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Meeuwissen JA, Bourne RG, Kearsley JH (1995) The importance of postoperative radiation therapy in the treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 31:325–331

    Google Scholar 

  9. Rodrigues LK, Leong SP, Kashani-Sabet M, Wong JH (2001) Early experience with sentinel lymph node mapping for Merkel cell carcinoma. J Am Acad Dermatol 45(2):303–308

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Smith DE, Bielamowicz S, Kagan AR, Anderson PJ, Peddada AV (1995) Cutaneous neuroendocrine (Merkel cell) carcinoma: a report of 35 cases. Am J Clin Oncol 18:199–203

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Su LD, Fullen DR, Lowe L, Uherova P, Schnitzer B, Valdez R (2002) CD117 (KIT receptor) expression in Merkel cell carcinoma. Am J Dermatopathol 24(4):289–293

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Yiengpruksawan A, Croit DG, Thaler HT, Urmacher C, Knapper WK (1991) Merkel cell carcinoma: prognosis and management. Arch Surg 126:1514–1519

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. McAfee WJ, Morris CG, Mendenhall CM, Werning JW, Mendenhall NP, Mendenhall WM (2005) Merkel cell carcinoma: treatment and outcomes. Cancer 104(8):1761–1764

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. J. Liebau

    Present address: Klinik für Plastische Chirurgie, Kaiserswerther Diakonie, Florence-Nightingale-Krankenhaus, Kreuzbergstrasse 79, 40489, Düsseldorf, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic Surgery, Fachklinik Hornheide at the Westfalian Wilhelms University, Dorbaumstr. 100, 48157, Münster, Germany

    J. Liebau, A. Arens & A. Schulz

  2. Klinik für Plastische Chirurgie, Kaiserswerther Diakonie, Florence-Nightingale-Krankenhaus, Kreuzbergstrasse 79, 40489, Düsseldorf, Germany

    V. Schwipper

Authors
  1. J. Liebau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Arens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. V. Schwipper
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Schulz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Liebau.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liebau, J., Arens, A., Schwipper, V. et al. Sentinel lymph node mapping for patients with Merkel cell carcinoma—experience of 5 years. Eur J Plast Surg 29, 107–109 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-006-0047-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-006-0047-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation