INTRODUCTION: @entity3852 ( @entity3852 ) is a rare @entity1489 with a highly malignant nature whose appropriate treatment is still debated. Wide surgery is the treatment of choice, but the question concerning protocols for adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy remains open. @entity1 AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 24 cases of @entity3852 collected over a period of 9 years was performed, focusing on clinical and histologic features, and response to treatment. RESULTS: There were 17 @entity1 and 7 @entity1 with a mean age of 74.3 years. The median follow up was 34 months. The annual incidence per 100,000 habitants was 0.378. The head and neck localization was predominant (54%). Fifteen (68%) of @entity1 presented with @entity66 (stage I), and 32% of @entity1 presented with regional node (stage II) or distant @entity3 (stage III). @entity1 with stage I had a 5-years overall survival rate of 73,85%. Among them, five @entity1 (33%) developed a local or nodal recurrence, although two @entity1 were initially treated with surgery and local post-operative radiotherapy. @entity1 with stage II and III demonstrated a 5-year overall survival rate of 51,43%. DISCUSSION: Our series illustrates the clinical characteristics of this @entity5 of the elderly, which is mainly located on head and neck and associated with a poor prognosis. Treatments are discussed.

[ XXXX : descriptive study of 24 cases (1993-2001)].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['men', 'women', 'Patients', 'patients', 'PATIENTS'] @entity3852 :: ('MESH:D015266', 'Disease') :: ['Merkel cell carcinoma', 'MCC'] @entity66 :: ('MESH:D004194', 'Disease') :: ['local disease'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumor'] @entity1489 :: ('MESH:D012878', 'Disease') :: ['skin tumor'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastases']
@entity3852 :: (MESH:D015266,Disease) :: ['Merkel cell carcinoma']
