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December 20, 2021
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Article

Clinical and pathological features of Merkel cell carcinoma: A 4-year follow-up observational retrospective study in Spain

Publicated to:Cancer Epidemiology. 76 - 2022-01-01 76(), DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2021.102081

Authors: Ríos-Martín JJ; Rodriguez-Salas N; Vázquez-Doval FJ; Llombart B; Rojas-Ferrer N; González-Vela MC; Zulueta T; Monteagudo C; Aneiros-Fernández J; Beato MJ; Carrillo R; Silva-Carmona MY; Ayala M; Gallego E; Rodríguez-Peralto JL; Fraga-Fernández J; Fernández-Figueras MT; Barranco C; Córdoba A; Sanz-Zorrilla A; Ferrer B; Fúnez R; Santonja C; Saus C; Idoate MA; Santos-Briz A; Onrubia J; Pinedo F; de las Peñas R

Affiliations

Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra - Author
Dermaclinic - Author
Hospital Clínico Universitario de Salamanca - Author
Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia - Author
Hospital Costa Del Sol - Author
Hospital de Manises - Author
Hospital General de Catalunya - Author
Hospital General Universitario de Valencia - Author
Hospital Ramón y Cajal - Author
Hospital Regional Universitario Carlos Haya - Author
Hospital Universitari Virgen de la Victoria - Author
Hospital Universitario 12 de octubre - Author
Hospital Universitario de la Princesa - Author
Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón - Author
Hospital Universitario Fundacion Jimenez Diaz - Author
Hospital Universitario La Paz - Author
Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla - Author
Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía - Author
Hospital Universitario San Cecilio - Author
Hospital Universitario San Sebastian - Author
Hospital Universitario Son Espases - Author
Hospital Universitario Vall d′Hebrón - Author
HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO VIRGEN DEL ROCIO - Author
Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena - Author
Hospital Virgen del Mar - Author
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario La Paz - Author
Instituto Valenciano de Oncologia - Author
Universidad de Navarra - Author
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Abstract

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a malignant skin cancer with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 50%. Knowledge of MCC has increased in recent years mostly due to improved diagnosis techniques. In Spain there is lack of information regarding the incidence and tumour characteristics, and the treatment approaches are not standardised. The objective of this study was to provide information of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of MCC patients in Spain. Methods: Retrospective, observational study involving 192 patients from 25 Spanish hospitals. Evaluated variables included overall survival and incidence rate of Merkel cell polyomavirus, in patients diagnosed from 2012 to 2016. Results: The Spanish incidence rate was estimated 0.32/100,000 inhabitants/year, with variations according to geographical regions, being slightly higher in areas with greater sunlight exposure. In total, 61.5% of tumours showed expansive growth (progressive growth of the tumour), 78.6% showed localisation in UV-exposed skin. 97.4% of patients were diagnosed by excisional biopsy. Surgery was the first line treatment in 96.6% of patients, radiotherapy in 24.6%, and chemotherapy in 6.3%. These treatments were not mutually exclusive. Median overall survival was 38.3 months (78.4% at 12 months and 60% at 24 months). MCPyV was present in 33.8% of patients. Conclusion: The incidence of MCC in Spain is one of the highest in Europe, with a slight predominance in men. The sample has shown that a biopsy is available for diagnosis in most cases. Moreover, the treatment is surgical when the tumour is localized and is associated with lymphadenectomy, and/or it is radiotherapy if widespread.

Keywords

clinicalfeatures spainmerkel cell carcinomaClinicalFeatures spainMerkel cell carcinomaPathological

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2022, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q2 (Segundo Cuartil), in the category Oncology. Notably, the journal is positioned en el Cuartil Q3 for the agency WoS (JCR) in the category Public, Environmental & Occupational Health.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 1.23, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-16, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 1
  • Scopus: 2

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-16:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 18.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 18 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 4.3.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 7 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://repositorio.uam.es/handle/10486/707508