Korean J Dermatol.
2006 Jan;44(1):106-108.
A Case of Merkel Cell Carcinoma with Unusual Clinical Manifestation
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University. drseo@hanafos.com
- 2Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University.
Abstract
- Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive skin cancer that occurs most frequently in the elderly on sun-exposed areas. However, any possible cutaneous or mucosal sites may also be involved. It usually presents as a rapidly- growing, painless, single red or purple colored cutaneous papule, nodule or indurated plaque that may elude diagnosis until histopathologic examination. We report a case of an 83-year old female patient who presented with a 3 x 3.5 cm sized, skin-colored, painful nodule on the left mandibular angle area. A new red nodule had combined on the original lesion after 6 months, and showed unusual clinical manifestation. Microscopically, the tumor cells were uniform with round to oval-shaped nuclei and scanty cytoplasm, and they showed a trabecular arrangement. In immunohistochemical studies, the patient was reactive to cytokeratin-20, and focally reactive to NSE and synaptophysin.
