Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma
with a high rate of metastasis. Most MCCs present as rapidly growing red
or violaceous firm nodules on the sun-exposed skin of fair-skinned
Caucasians older than 60 years. MCC is unsuspected by clinical
examination in 99% of cases; therefore, biopsy is necessary to establish
a pathologic diagnosis. The author has experienced a 54-year-old female
presenting with a 0.3cm mass on the right ear lobule. An excisional
biopsy was performed, which suggested neuroendocrine carcinoma, such as
Merkel cell carcinoma. During the tumor work-up, temporal bone computed
tomography scan (TBCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) newly
revealed a 7x5mm enhancing lymph node (LN) in right parotid gland. The
LN was not clinically palpable and did not appear to be a metastatic
lesion. However, the positron emission tomography-computed tomography
(PET-CT) and Chest-CT revealed a solid lesion in the left upper
lung(LUL) which was diagnosed with r/o adenocarcinoma (cT2aN0M0). After
tumor board with otorhinolaryngology, thoracic surgery and radiology,
these lesions were considered double primary cancer. In this case, the
author reports MCC in earlobe with double primary cancer of
adenocarcinoma in lung which went through co-operation: wide excision of
the MCC in earlobe, partial parotidectomy with selective neck dissection
(II-III) by the otorhinolaryngology team, and Video-assisted Thoracic
Surgery of LUL by the thoracic surgery team. Pathology results showed
MCC in earlobe and metastatic LN in parotid gland, whereas the lung
lesion showed invasive adenocarcinoma. The patient is currently
undergoing chemotherapy for the lung adenocarcinoma and followed up
regularly. |