A rare case of merkel cell carcinoma metastasis to the adrenal resected robotically.
Feb 2013
Source
Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute, Division of Endocrine Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an uncommon skin malignancy that has a high propensity for metastatic spread and there is no consensus regarding the optimal therapeutic approach. The relative roles of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are still controversial. As the robotic approaches are gaining more popularity over the recent years, herein we report our result for MCC using robotics.
METHODS:
We herein describe a patient with MCC metastases to the left adrenal gland, which was resected robotically. The procedure was performed under general anesthesia using the robotic camera and 2 robotic working ports.
RESULTS:
A 59-year-old woman, who was diagnosed to have MCC of the left forearm 1 year ago with stage T2 N1 and removed by wide excision, underwent left robotic lateral transabdominal adrenalectomy because of MCC metastasis to the left adrenal gland. She was discharged home on postoperative day 2 uneventfully and is currently alive at 18 months with no evidence of recurrent disease on imaging studies.
CONCLUSIONS:
This case report demonstrates that minimally invasive adrenalectomy may be performed for isolated MCC metastasis.
