Successful Treatment of Facial Merkel Cell Carcinoma Using CyberKnife Radiotherapy Alone: A Case Report

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine skin tumor. Herein, we present a case of MCC which was successfully treated with radiotherapy alone using CyberKnife® (CK) (Accuray Incorporated, Sunnyvale, California, United States). An 86-year-old female patient presented with multiple painless pink rash skin tumors on the left cheek. The patient was diagnosed with MCC based on a lesion biopsy (T2cN2M0, stage IIIB). The patient was referred for CK radiotherapy (CKR) at our institution because of her advanced age and inoperative lesions. The patient underwent CKR alone, with a planning target volume (PTV) of 14.9 ml, a prescribed dose of 30 Gy, a maximum dose of 46.2 Gy, and an isodose line (the minimum dose of 95% of the PTV) of 65% in 10 fractions for 13 days. The lesions had completely regressed on the last day of CKR. Left cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) appeared 10 months after CKR. The patient underwent a second CKR for CLNM, the PTV was 4.6 ml, and the prescribed dose was 27 Gy in three fractions for three days. The CLNM had completely regressed one month later after the second CKR. Primary lesions did not recur for 33 months after the initial CKR, and CLNM did not reappear for 23 months after the second CKR with good cosmetic results. No CKR-related adverse event occurred in our follow-up period. Our present case indicates that CKR is an effective treatment option for patients with MCC, particularly elderly patients who may not be suitable candidates for extensive surgical resection.