Active surveillance after complete spontaneous regression of a metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma of the head

Abstract

Complete spontaneous regression (CSR) of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a known phenomenon. There are no reports of an active decision to avoid resection or adjuvant treatment and keep surveillance after CSR of MCC in the literature. An 84-year-old Caucasian male patient with a 6×5 cm MCC on the left forehead, with evidence of satellite nodules and a lymph node conglomerate in the left parotid region compatible with metastasis and confirmed by 18F-FDG PET-CT, presented CSR of the neoplasm. The use of PET-CT and non-operative active surveillance strategy can assist with monitoring response, thus avoiding unnecessary resections.