Andrea et al identified prognostic factors for a patient with a Merkel cell carcinoma. The authors are from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.
Parameter
Favorable
Unfavorable
growth pattern
nodular
infiltrative
tumor depth
shallow (< 5 mm)
deeper
lymphovascular invasion
absent
present
Stage
I
IV
where:
• Lymphovascular invasion was defined as tumor emboli within vascular spaces away from the tumor.
A patient with a Stage I tumor (< 2 cm in diameter without lymph node metastases and without distant metastases) showing all 3 favorable findings had the best prognosis.
Stage IV disease (distant metastases) was associated with a poor prognosis.
Stage II disease (>= 2 cm in diameter without lymph node metastases) and Stage III disease (lymph node metastases) had an intermediate effect on survival.
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
