Merkel Cells Labeled
The classic pattern of ck20 expression is dot like and paranuclear.
Merkel cells labeled. Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare type of skin cancer that usually appears as a flesh colored or bluish red nodule often on your face head or neck. They are abundant in highly sensitive skin like that of the fingertips in humans and make synaptic contacts with somatosensory afferent nerve fibers. 301344 this high frequency of ck20 immunoreactivity. Merkel cell carcinoma most often develops in older people.
Although their origin is unclear they are thought to arise from epidermal ectoderm rather than neural crest. Merkel cells are rare and are found in the basal layer of the epidermis and around the bulge region of hair follicles. Merkel cell carcinoma is aggressive and associated with high mortality. Merkel cells also known as merkel ranvier cells or tactile epithelial cells are oval shaped mechanoreceptors essential for light touch sensation and found in the skin of vertebrates.
Merkel cells have both such features. Long term sun exposure or a weak immune system may increase your. Merkel cell ne carcinoma of the skin is an uncommon entity that was first described as trabecular carcinoma. Merkel cell carcinoma primarily affects the sun exposed skin of elderly males and preferentially the head and neck region.
370 these tumors are uniformly positive for broad spectrum cytokeratins and stain positively for ck20 in 97 of cases with a dotlike pattern of reactivity fig. Merkel cell carcinoma is also called neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin.