Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare aggressive skin cancer with the mortality rate of 33%. MCC was first described by Toker in 1972 as a trabecular cell carcinoma and is classified as a neuroendocrine tumor similar to small cell lung carcinoma and melanoma. The pathogenesis of MCC remains largely unknown. However, ultraviolet radiation and immunosuppression are likely to play a significant pathogenic role. The primary skin lesion is usually asymptomatic and it typically presents as a red or purple dome-shaped nodule. The management of MCC is controversial, however, local wide excision followed by radiotherapy is accepted as the primary treatment modality. The regional draining nodal basin is the most common site for recurrence. Therefore, sentinel lymph node biopsy is recommended in all cases, except for the clinically node-negative cases. We herein report two cases of MCC on the left cheek with different clinical manifestations.
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell* ; Cheek* ; Immunosuppression ; Melanoma ; Mortality ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to analyze the histopathologic types and clinical characteristics of benign oral cavity tumors and to identify their possible etiologic factors. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: This was a 10-year retrospective analysis of histologically diagnosed benign tumors in the oral cavity. Data was compiled for each case, documenting information about gender, age, habits (smoking and alcohol), characteristics of the lesion (site, size, color, surface and consistency), comorbidities and denture. RESULTS: Of 257 pathologically confirmed cases of excisional biopsies, the most prevalent were in the order of mucocele (47.08%), fibroma (14.79%), and hemangioma (9.34%). Labium (50.19%) and oral tongue (22.18%) were among the most frequently affected sites. In this study, there was a significant female predominance in fibroma and granuloma. On comparing the mean age of the patients for the different types of tumors, we found that mucocele had the lowest age and that there is a similar mean age among the tumors. The vast majority (99.2%) was represented by non-ulcerated masses and only 2 (0.8%) were ulcerative masses. With respect to habits, we found no significance between comorbidities and denture. CONCLUSION: Based on this study, we can state that while mucocele is the most frequent benign tumor of the oral cavity, labium is the most frequently affected site. The mean age of the patients is lowest for mucocele, and there is a high prevalence of fibroma and granuloma occurring among females. However, with respect to habits, we found no significance between comorbidities and denture.
Biopsy ; Comorbidity ; Dentures ; Female ; Fibroma ; Granuloma ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Lip ; Methods ; Mouth Mucosa ; Mouth* ; Mucocele ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies* ; Tongue ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The frequency of ultrasonography and cytological examinations for thyroid nodules has increased. But the efficacy of fine needle aspiration biopsy varies according to the size of the nodules. The study aimed to identify the effect of thyroid nodule size on malignancy. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The medical records of patients who underwent total or hemithryoidectomy in a single tertiary hospital were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 204 nodules were obtained from 193 patients who underwent fine needle aspiration biopsy before thyroid surgery. After each nodule was classified by size, the results of the fine needle aspiration test and risk of the final diagnosis were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The average size of 204 Bethesda class 2 (benign) nodules was 2.99 cm, which was larger than those of other classes (p<0.05). In the final histopathologic diagnosis, there was a difference in size between benign (2.41 cm) and malignant nodules (1.23 cm) (p<0.05). In addition, a logistic regression analysis showed that the nodules below 2.0 cm in size showed an odd ratio of 7.81, compared to the nodules larger than 2.0 cm (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, malignancy was higher when the thyroid nodule was less than 2 cm. Therefore, a careful observation is needed for nodules less than 2 cm for which fine needle aspiration biopsy would be recommended. Conversely, it is necessary to reconsider the diagnostic surgery for nodules larger than 2 cm.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Thyroidectomy* ; Ultrasonography