Merkel cell carcinoma primary sites and overall survival: The prognostic indications of head and neck tumors

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor. Primarily affecting the elderly, the incidence of MCC is 0.10 to 1.6 cases per 100,000 people per year. 1 MCC has a low overall survival (OS), ranging between 37 and 74% at 5 years. 1–5 The majority of lesions occur on the head and neck followed by the trunk and extremities