ABSTRACT
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive cutaneous primary small cell carcinoma with an unfavorable prognosis. It is a disease of the sun exposed skin of the elderly commonly involving the head, neck, and extremities. Though most cases present as localized disease, treatment should be definitive with wide excision of the primary lesion (2-3 cm margin) and prophylactic lymphadenectomy followed by irradiation to the primary site. Even when locoregional control is achieved, close surveillance is required due to high rates of local and systemic relapses. Chemotherapy is preserved for systemic disease, though the success of this treatment is limited and no chemotherapy protocol has been shown to improve survival.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell/diagnosis , Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis , Aged , Biopsy, Fine-Needle , Carcinoma, Merkel Cell/pathology , Carcinoma, Merkel Cell/surgery , Humans , Male , Skin/pathology , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Skin Neoplasms/surgeryABSTRACT
Transdiaphragmatic approach to the pericardium through a subxiphoid incision is a safe, rapid, and effective way to obtain drainage of the pericardium fluid in patient of disseminated malignancy with recurrent cardiac tamponade. No drainage tubes are needed; pericardial fluid is absorbed by the peritoneum; there is no need for double lumen tubes for single lung ventilation and the subxiphoid incisions are small and almost painless.
ABSTRACT
Though breast carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, adequate knowledge of this disease is still very poor. Pure primary squamous cell carcinoma of breast is one such mystery, which is encountered very rarely. Its clinical behavior should not be correlated with the standard infiltrating duct carcinoma of breast. It follows an atypical presentation in terms of tumor size, lymph node and systemic spread. It is generally a triple negative tumor with an aggressive behavior and resistance to standard chemotherapeutic regimens. Management decisions need to be individualized with emphasis toward platinum-based chemotherapy and targeted therapy.
