A rare case of Merkel's cell carcinoma located on the upper eyelid in a young patient [Un raro caso di carcinoma a cellule di Merkel a localizzazione palpebrale superiore in una giovane paziente]

Merkel's cell carcinoma is considered to be a rare disease, with recent literature describing no more than 430 cases, in 90% of whom onset was in patients aged over 50 years. The authors present a case of Merkel's cell carcinoma located on the upper eyelid which, unusually, had onset in a patient aged 31 years. Rapid growth of the neoplasm dictated immediate excision of the lesion, almost totally sacrificing the upper eyelid, followed by reconstruction adopting a mixed technique (cartilage graft, cutaneous flap, conjunctival flap and, skin graft). Surgical treatment ensured local radical removal and reconstruction enabled the patient to preserve effective blepharal mobility, with stable results at seven months.