Merkel cell carcinoma metastatic to the testis: report of a rare diagnosis and review of the literature

Davide Gigliano; João Lobo; Paula Lopes; Ivo Julião; Francisco Lobo; Rosa Azevedo; Rui Henrique; Ângelo Rodrigues

doi:10.4322/acr.2020.198

Clinical Case Report and Review

Merkel cell carcinoma metastatic to the testis: report of a rare diagnosis and review of the literature

Davide Gigliano; João Lobo; Paula Lopes; Ivo Julião; Francisco Lobo; Rosa Azevedo; Rui Henrique; Ângelo Rodrigues

http://dx.doi.org/10.4322/acr.2020.198 Autops Case Rep, vol.11, e2020198, 2021

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Abstract

ABSTRACT: Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive malignancy that frequently recurs/disseminates, but metastases to the genitourinary tract are rare. Only eight cases of Merkel cell carcinoma metastatic to the testis are reported. We describe the ninth case of this event and provide a review of the literature. A 58-year-old man diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma of the wrist, presented, 37 months later, a recurrence in the form of a testicular metastasis. The tumor consisted of a monotonous proliferation of small, blue, round cells, with immunoexpression of neuroendocrine markers and the typical dot-like paranuclear immunostaining for cytokeratin 20, in the absence of immunostaining for cytokeratin 7. The patient is alive with no evidence of disease. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of metastatic dissemination to the testis since genital examination/imaging is not part of routine follow-up for these patients, but timely orchiectomy may be curative.

Keywords

Carcinoma, Merkel cell, Neoplasm Metastasis, Neuroendocrine Tumors, Testis

References

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Submitted date:
05/03/2020

Accepted date:
06/13/2020

Publication date:
12/08/2020

Merkel cell carcinoma metastatic to the testis: report of a rare diagnosis and review of the literature

Davide Gigliano; João Lobo; Paula Lopes; Ivo Julião; Francisco Lobo; Rosa Azevedo; Rui Henrique; Ângelo Rodrigues

Abstract

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