61-Year-Old White Female with a Non-Healing Ulcerated Ankle Mass

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Christopher Lowther
Troy Fiddler
Ian A Whitcroft
Juanita Sapp
Etan Marks
Clay Cockerell

Keywords

Merkel Cell, Ankle Mass, Avelumab, carcinoma

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma is a  rare cutaneous carcinoma from the tactile Merkel cells. With fewer than half the patients surviving more than one year and fewer than 20% surviving beyond five years. These tumors are rarely suspected until the biopsy results return. Polyoma virus is associated with up to 80% of the tumors. 53% present on the head and neck and 35% present on the extremities while larger lesions are exceedingly rare in either location. Recently, A newly approved drug, Avelumab, has shown tumor response in patients with some patients experiencing complete remission.

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