Case Report

Complementary Role of Positron Emission Tomography in Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Authors: Oscar Lin, MD, Aju Thomas, MD, Amolak Singh, MD, Ben Greenspan, MD

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare type of neuroendocrine tumor of the skin with approximately 470 documented new cases annually in the United States. These tumors have high metastatic and recurrence rates, making them aggressive and difficult to treat. Diagnostic workup usually includes computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and scintigraphy methods such as octreotide scans. More recently, positron emission tomographic scanning has been used to evaluate Merkel cell carcinomas. A case of Merkel cell carcinoma, in which positron emission tomography imaging with fluorodeoxyglucose played an important role in staging, re-staging, and identifying previously unknown distant metastatic disease, is presented in this article.


Key Points


* Positron emission tomography imaging may be useful for detecting recurrent Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) that may not be easily demonstrated on computed tomography.


* MCC is rare but difficult to manage because of staging limitations with conventional healing.


* Positron emission tomography imaging using radiolabeled glucose may help in accurate staging and management of MCC.

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