@entity3852 ( @entity3852 ) is a rare, aggressive @entity1489 with a high potential of locoregional relapse after surgery alone. This report is an update of our experience in the treatment of @entity3852 . From January 1990 to May 2000, 31 @entity1 with @entity3852 , 13 @entity1 and 18 @entity1 aged between 34 and 92 years, were treated at the University of Cologne, Germany. Primary @entity5 sites were in the head and neck region in 13 @entity1 , limbs in 13, and trunk in 5. The @entity5 were stage I in 26 of 31 @entity1 , stage II in 4 of 31 and stage III in 1 of 31. Treatment included surgery alone in 14 of 31 @entity1 , adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy in 16 of 31 @entity1 , 1 of them had incomplete surgery, and definitive radiotherapy in 1 of 31 @entity1 (stage III). Median overall survival (OS) after first diagnosis was 32 months (95% confidence interval: 0-75 months) with a 3-year OS rate of 47% (95% CI: 25-69%). Six of 31 @entity1 relapsed locally after a median of 4 months, 10 of 31 @entity1 developed regional node metastases, and 7 of 31 @entity1 distant metastases. Nine @entity1 died as a direct result of @entity3852 . Locoregional control and disease-free survival were significantly improved in the group with postoperative radiotherapy (p = 0.023). Uni- and multivariate analysis revealed that head and neck location of the @entity5 and the lack of postoperative radiotherapy are unfavorable prognostic factors. Postoperative radiotherapy to the @entity5 region and the regional lymphatics is effective in the prevention of locoregional recurrence. Prospective clinical trials should be performed to confirm these observations.

Role of postoperative radiotherapy in the management of XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'patients', 'men'] @entity3852 :: ('MESH:D015266', 'Disease') :: ['MCC', 'Merkel cell carcinoma'] @entity1489 :: ('MESH:D012878', 'Disease') :: ['neuroendocrine tumor of the skin'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumor', 'primary tumor', 'tumors']
@entity3852 :: (MESH:D015266,Disease) :: ['Merkel cell carcinoma']
