Metastatic merkel cell carcinoma to the thyroid gland: Case report and review of the literature

Salmaan Sayeed; Danielle Kapustin; Samuel J Rubin; Jun Fan; Christina Wiedmer; Daniel Chung; Azita Khorsandi; Margaret Brandwein-Weber; Philip Friedlander; Richard Bakst; Ricardo J Ramirez; Mark L Urken

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104278

Metastatic merkel cell carcinoma to the thyroid gland: Case report and review of the literature

Am J Otolaryngol. 2024 Apr 4;45(4):104278. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104278. Online ahead of print.

Affiliations

¹ THANC (Thyroid, Head & Neck Cancer) Foundation, New York, NY, USA; Dept. of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: salmaan.sayeed@thancfoundation.org.
² THANC (Thyroid, Head & Neck Cancer) Foundation, New York, NY, USA; Dept. of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
³ Dept. of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
⁴ Dept. of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
⁵ Hematology and Medical Oncology, Waldman Dept. of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
⁶ Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.

PMID: 38604100
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104278

Abstract

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive and rare neuroendocrine tumor, accounting for less than 1% of skin cancers. Metastasis primarily manifests in the cervical lymph nodes but rarely affect the thyroid.

Methods: We report a case of primary head and neck cutaneous MCC with metastasis to the thyroid gland. A review of the literature of MCC with thyroid metastasis was conducted.

Results: We identified five cases of MCC with thyroid metastasis. Primary sites included the distal upper and lower extremities, axilla, buttock, and groin. Treatment courses varied including thyroidectomy, immunotherapy, and expectant palliative measures. Time from initial diagnosis to thyroid metastasis ranged from four months to four years. Tissue diagnosis was achieved in 5 of 6 cases.

Conclusions: MCC with thyroid metastasis is rare and likely represents aggressive disease. Despite advances in treatment and surveillance, outcomes for MCC remain poor. Ongoing research may establish predictors for treatment response.

Keywords: Merkel cell carcinoma; Metastasis; Thyroid cancer.

Publication types

Review