Merkel cell carcinoma: Overall survival after open biopsy versus wide local excision.

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine tumor of the skin with a dismal prognosis. We conducted a retrospective medical chart review of patients with MCC who were initially diagnosed with an open biopsy (n = 30) or wide local excision (n = 24). Stages I, II, and III disease was found in 38%, 20%, and 16%, respectively. The 2-year and 5-year overall and disease-specific survival rates were 64.8% and 38.8% versus 45.2% and 26.4%, respectively. Cox regression multivariate model, including tissue sampling technique, re-resection, therapy modalities, pathological staging, and T and N classifications, showed that patients diagnosed initially with an open biopsy have significant worse overall (p = .014) and disease-free (p = .005) survival rates compared with patients who had a wide local excision. This study showed an improved overall survival in patients with MCC after wide local excision compared to open biopsy of the primary site at first diagnosis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1014-E1018, 2016.