Clinical case: successful treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma in an 84-year-old patient

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare tumour characterized by a high potential for metastasis and local recurrence. The nonspecific clinical picture of the disease often leads to late diagnosis, which creates certain difficulties in the further management of patients. The predominant number of patients with Merkel cell carcinoma are elderly and senile persons, whose comorbid status requires a personalized approach to treatment. This article presents a clinical observation of successful treatment of an 84-year-old woman with Merkel cell carcinoma of the infraorbital region. The patient came to the clinic with complaints of a skin tumor in the infraorbital region on the right, which was verified at her place of residence as Merkel carcinoma. Computer tomography additionally found a focal mass in the right parotid gland. Additional examination revealed no contraindications to surgical treatment, after which the patient underwent wide excision of the skin tumor with a reconstructive plastic component, extended cervical lymph node dissection with resection of the parotid salivary gland on the right. Histological examination of postoperative material confirmed the diagnosis. Subsequently, the patient underwent a postoperative course of radiation therapy. No information on recurrence of the disease was received at the time of submission of data for publication. Treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma in elderly patients requires a multidisciplinary approach and can significantly improve the quality of life.