[Merkel cell-carcinoma in the parotid gland--review of literature and case report].

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare malignant primary tumor of the skin, which develop typically in the elderly in the sun exposed areas of the skin, most commonly in the head and neck region. This tumor is very aggressive with a high rate of regional and distant metastases, marked propensity for local et regional recurrence, and very poor survival. Skin lesions are typically red or purple and present as a solitary dome-shaped nodule or indurated plaque. The recognition of such tumor in not difficult, but in same cases, when the tumor infiltrate deeper organs and structures it may cause some problems. We describe a case of 86 years old women who was operated in our department with an initial diagnosis of parotid tumor infiltrating the skin of the preauricular region and the facial nerve. The histopatological and immunohistochemical examination of the tumor showed that it was Merkel cell carcinoma, which in fact developed in the skin and infiltrated parotid gland and facial nerve. After operation patient received 2 courses of palliative radiation. Until now during a 4,5 years follow up there was no recurrence of the tumor and the patient is well.