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CC BY 4.0 · Brazilian Journal of Oncology 2023; 19: e-20230404
DOI: 10.5935/2526-8732.20230404
Case Report
Clinical Oncology

Total remission of Merkel cell carcinoma after Coronavirus infection: a case report

Remissão total do carcinoma de células de Merkel após infecção por Coronavírus: relato de caso
Lucas Henrique Rigon Vidoto
1   Instituto Nacional do Câncer - INCA, Oncologia Clínica, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
,
Cicero Luiz Cunha Martins
1   Instituto Nacional do Câncer - INCA, Oncologia Clínica, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
,
Andreia Cristina De Melo
1   Instituto Nacional do Câncer - INCA, Oncologia Clínica, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
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ABSTRACT

A 65-years old Peruvian woman was admitted to the Brazilian National Cancer Institute, with a diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma in the left shoulder. A PET-CT confirmed the locally advanced disease, with the involvement of lymph nodes in the axillary region. At the time of the proposed surgical procedure, the patient tested positive for COVID-19 without symptoms. She returned for an appointment one month later recovering from COVID-19, reporting a significant decrease in the lesion. One month later, no lesion was clinically found on the left shoulder. Due to the possible remission of the disease, a new PET CT was requested, revealing no metabolic findings suggestive of active neoplastic tissue.

RESUMO

Uma mulher peruana de 65 anos foi admitida no Instituto Nacional do Câncer com diagnóstico de carcinoma de células de Merkel no ombro esquerdo. A PET-CT confirmou a doença localmente avançada, com envolvimento de gánglios linfáticos da região axilar. No momento do procedimento cirúrgico proposto, a paciente testou positivo para COVID-19 sem sintomas. Retornou à consulta um mês depois, recuperando-se da COVID-19, relatando diminuição significativa da lesão. Um mês depois, nenhuma lesão foi encontrada clinicamente no ombro esquerdo. Devido à possível remissão da doença, foi solicitada nova PET-CT, não revelando achados metabólicos sugestivos de tecido neoplásico ativo.

Keywords:

Merkel cells - COVID-19 - Remission, Spontaneous

Descritores:

Células de Merkel - COVID-19 - Remissão espontânea


Publication History

Received: 16 January 2023

Accepted: 10 March 2023

Article published online:
26 April 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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Bibliographical Record
Lucas Henrique Rigon Vidoto, Cicero Luiz Cunha Martins, Andreia Cristina De Melo. Total remission of Merkel cell carcinoma after Coronavirus infection: a case report. Brazilian Journal of Oncology 2023; 19: e-20230404.
DOI: 10.5935/2526-8732.20230404
 

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