RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive skin cancer that is managed in a great variety of ways. However, international clinical practice guidelines give only partial coverage to issues considered major problems.The recommendations presented here aim to provide Spanish dermatologists with a guide to improving disputed aspects of diagnosis, staging, and treatment of localized Merkel cell carcinomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The ADAPTE process was used. Members of the Spanish Group of Oncologic Dermatology and Surgery (GEDOC) with experience in treating Merkel cell carcinoma and interest in drafting these guidelines were selected. The group described the care process and listed the most important clinical questions. They then searched for guidelines and assessed them with the AGREE II (Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation) tool. After consulting the guidelines for answers to their clinical questions, the group drafted the present statementand sent it for external review. RESULTS: The guidelines that scored highest in the AGREE II assessment step were the consensus-based interdisciplinary guideline of the European Association of Dermato-Oncology and the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer, and those of the Comprehensive Cancer Network, the Alberta Health Services in Canada, the American Cancer Society, and the Cutaneous Oncology Group of the French Society of Dermatology. A total of 9 clinical questions were answered based on these guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The guidelines presented here answer clinical questions that arise in routine practice. They can provide dermatologists with a starting point for decision-making, although available resources and patient preferences must always be borne in mind.
Asunto(s)
Carcinoma de Células de Merkel/diagnóstico , Carcinoma de Células de Merkel/terapia , Neoplasias Cutáneas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Cutáneas/terapia , Carcinoma de Células de Merkel/patología , Dermatología/organización & administración , Medicina Basada en la Evidencia , Departamentos de Hospitales , Unidades Hospitalarias , Humanos , Estadificación de Neoplasias , Neoplasias Cutáneas/patología , EspañaRESUMEN
Antecedentes y objetivo: El carcinoma de células de Merkel es un tipo de cáncer de piel infrecuente y agresivo. Hay una gran variación en su manejo y las diferentes guías extranjeras que existen cubren parcialmente los problemas identificados como principales. El objetivo de la presente guía es servir de referencia a los dermatólogos españoles para mejorar aspectos controvertidos del diagnóstico, estadificación y tratamiento del carcinoma de células de Merkel. Materiales y métodos: Se empleó el método ADAPTE: se escogió a miembros del Grupo Español de Dermato-Oncología y Cirugía (GEDOC) con experiencia en el tratamiento de estos tumores y con interés en participar en la elaboración de la guía. Tras resumir el proceso de atención y elaborar las preguntas clínicas relevantes, se hizo una búsqueda de guías, que se seleccionaron según su puntuación mediante el instrumento Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II). Tras la búsqueda de las respuestas en dichas guías, se elaboraron posteriormente las recomendaciones. Por último, se sometió la guía a revisión externa. Resultados: Las guías con mejor puntuación fueron las de National Comprehensive Cancer Network, la European consensus-based interdisciplinary guideline, Alberta Healthservices Clinical practice guideline, American Cancer Society y Cutaneous Oncology Group of the French Society of Dermatology. Se obtuvieron en total 9 preguntas clínicas, contestadas a partir de estas guías. Conclusiones: Esta guía responde a preguntas habituales en la práctica clínica diaria y sirve a los dermatólogos como referencia en la toma de decisiones, siempre teniendo presentes los recursos y preferencias del paciente
Background and objective: Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive skin cancer that is managed in a great variety of ways. However, international clinical practice guidelines give only partial coverage to issues considered major problems.The recommendations presented here aim to provide Spanish dermatologists with a guide to improving disputed aspects of diagnosis, staging, and treatment of localized Merkel cell carcinomas. Material and methods: The ADAPTE process was used. Members of the Spanish Group of Oncologic Dermatology and Surgery (GEDOC) with experience in treating Merkel cell carcinoma and interest in drafting these guidelines were selected. The group described the care process and listed the most important clinical questions. They then searched for guidelines and assessed them with the AGREE II (Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation) tool. After consulting the guidelines for answers to their clinical questions, the group drafted the present statementand sent it for external review. Results: The guidelines that scored highest in the AGREE II assessment step were the consensus-based interdisciplinary guideline of the European Association of Dermato-Oncology and the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer, and those of the Comprehensive Cancer Network, the Alberta Health Services in Canada, the American Cancer Society, and the Cutaneous Oncology Group of the French Society of Dermatology. A total of 9 clinical questions were answered based on these guidelines. Conclusions: The guidelines presented here answer clinical questions that arise in routine practice. They can provide dermatologists with a starting point for decision-making, although available resources and patient preferences must always be borne in mind