J Korean Soc Radiol.
2023 Sep;84(5):1134-1139. 10.3348/jksr.2022.0148.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Trunk: Two Case Reports and Imaging Review
- Affiliations
-
- 1Departments of Radiology, Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea
- 2Departments of Pathology, Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea
- 3Department of Radiology, Daegu Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea
- KMID: 2546652
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2022.0148
Abstract
- Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare malignant cutaneous tumor primarily located in the head and neck. We report the imaging features of pathologically confirmed MCC in the trunk. On US, MCC showed heterogeneous echogenicity with perpendicular hypoechoic linear bands that resembled “columns of smoke” in the skin and subcutaneous layers as well as prominent vascularity. On MRI, the tumor showed hypointensity on T1-weighted images and hyperintensity on proton density and T2-weighted images with linear low-signal bands in the skin and subcutaneous layers as well as intense enhancement on T1-enhanced images. Although MCC has nonspecific imaging features, these characteristics may be helpful for the early diagnosis of this disease.
