A Case Report of Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis Secondary to Recurrent Merkel Cell Carcinoma after Avelumab
| Autor: | Pedro Mendoza, Kathy Lin Chuang |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
Chemotherapy medicine.diagnostic_test integumentary system Merkel cell carcinoma business.industry medicine.medical_treatment Cancer Case Report General Medicine Immunotherapy medicine.disease Avelumab medicine.anatomical_structure Biopsy medicine Recurrent Merkel Cell Carcinoma Radiology Merkel cell business medicine.drug |
| Zdroj: | Perm J |
| Popis: | Introduction Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine cancer with a high mortality rate of 33% to 46%. Merkel cell is a type of epidermis cell receptor responsible for contact sensitivity and is known to have neuroendocrine properties. Treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma with avelumab has been prominsing, but its rarity and poor prognosis necessitates close follow up. Case presentation A 71-year-old woman presented with a left forearm mass that was initially suspected to be a sebaceous cyst. After surgical excision and biopsy, she was diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma. The patient underwent avelumab treatment for 2 years, with remission of cancer for 24 months. A positron emission tomographic scan at 24 months of treatment noted uptake in the left axilla and portocaval regions. Despite receiving different combinations of immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiation, the patient's cancer metastasized to the leptomeninges. She was transitioned to hospice and passed away 3 months after diagnosis of leptomeningeal carcinoma. Conclusion This case highlights the efficacy of avelumab in keeping patients in remission, which can offer increased quality of life. However, it also highlights the aggressive nature of Merkel cell carcinoma and the importance of surveillance for early detection of recurrence. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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