Carcinoid tumor of the skin, which is a malignant neoplasm originating in the neuroendocrine system and having its pathological substrate in the Merkel cells, is a rare occurrence. It is most frequently seen on the skin around the neck and head and is more common in the elderly. This study relates the case of a 35-year-old woman presenting with a visible and palpable tumor covering the upper third of the sternum. Resection of the tumor was indicated because the patient had experienced two significant episodes of bleeding and osseous invasion had occurred. Penetration of the full thickness of the chest wall at the sternum notch necessitated the implantation of a rigid prosthesis. The definitive histopathological diagnosis was made only through postoperative analysis of the excised section. Reconstruction using a surgical cement plate and interposition of a myocutaneous flap proved its usefulness as an alternative when resection is performed in an area important to the postoperative respiratory dynamic, a situation that typically requires a ventilatory prosthesis for up to 6 days. The stability of the chest wall, together with viability of the flap and the recuperation of pulmonary function, allowed the patient to be discharged after 18 days.
Carcinoma, Merkel cell; Carcinoid tumor; Carcinoid tumor; Immunohistochemistry; Sternun; Neoplasm metastasis
