Merkel Cell Tumor Histology
Merkel cell carcinoma mcc which is also known as neuroendocrine carcinoma or trabecular cancer is a rare cancer that occurs when the growth of merkel cells in the skin is out of control.
Merkel cell tumor histology. Its a type of skin cancer that occurs when cells in the skin known as merkel cells grow uncontrollably. Merkel cell carcinoma is a neuroendocrine carcinoma composed of densely blue cells. In mammalian skin they are clear cells found in the stratum basale at the bottom of sweat duct ridges of the epidermis approximately 10 mm in diameter. Whites are much more likely to be affected by this skin cancer than are blacks.
Tumors can present as painless tender or itchy and other mcc manifestations as papules or plaques have also been reported. Mcc is a small round blue cell tumor composed of monomorphous cells with scant almost indiscernible cytoplasm and round to oval or polygonal hyperchromatic nuclei with dispersed chromatin and inconspicuous nucleoli nuclei often appear to be arranged back to back and may show moulding mitoses and apoptotic bodies are frequent. Because merkel cells are a type of neuroendocrine cell merkel cell carcinoma mcc is also sometimes called neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. Merkel cell carcinoma is a highly aggressive primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma primarily affecting elderly and immunosuppressed individuals.
Diagnosis requires microscopic evaluation as the clinical appearance is nonspecific and can mimic a variety of benign and malignant skin lesions. They also occur in epidermal invaginations of the plantar foot surface called rete ridges. Another name for mcc is trabecular carcinoma or trabecular cancer. This cancer is most common in people older than age 50 though it can occur at any age.
Histology of merkel cell carcinoma. Merkel cell carcinoma usually arises in people who have light colored skin. These flesh colored red or blue tumors typically vary in size from 05 cm less than one quarter of an inch to more than 5 cm 2 inches in diameter and may enlarge rapidly. Complications cancer that spreads to.
The tumour is centered in the dermis with frequent involvement of the overlying epidermis figures 1 2 and may invade the subcutaneous fat. The tumour forms sheets nests and rarely ribbons. Merkel cell carcinoma mcc usually presents as a firm nodule up to 2 cm diameter or mass 2 cm diameter. Merkel cell carcinoma is associated with the development of other skin cancers such as basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma.
Image 1 merkel cells of skin mcc usually begins in areas of the skin that is exposed to sunlight such as the head trunk neck legs and arms. Mcc is much less common than most other types of skin cancer see below but its one of the most dangerous types.