Unusual ulcerated Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin: report of a case.

Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive skin cancer, usually related to a severe prognosis. Treatment consists of wide surgical excision, adjuvant radiotherapy and/or polychemotherapy, but local-regional and distant relapses are common. Detection of histopathological and biological factors may select subgroups of patients suitable for different treatments. Herein we report the case of a patient treated for a wide bleeding and ulcerated Merkel cell carcinoma. Ulceration represents an uncommon feature because the tumor usually spreads from the dermis into subcutaneous fat, so it may be added to poor prognostic indicators. After surgical excision and postoperative radiotherapy, the patient recurred at regional nodes. Axillary lymphadenectomy was followed by courses of polychemotherapy. We obtained a satisfactory survival (31 months) by timing these different therapeutic possibilities.

[Congenital esophageal cyst: a case report]. / Le cisti congenite dell'esofago: segnalazione di un caso.

Congenital oesophageal cysts are extremely rare findings in the context of masses developing in the mediastinum. The embryogenetic and physiopathological aspects of these lesions have yet to be fully clarified. Preoperative diagnostic investigations may be only partly successful in indicating the correct diagnosis. Surgical excision is always indicated, via either the thoracoscopic or thoracotomic routes. We report here on case of a duplication oesophageal cyst which we diagnosed and treated successfully in our department. The clinical and therapeutic aspects of these lesions are discussed and compared with other cases reported in the literature.