The merkel cell carcinoma challenge: A review from the fine needle aspiration service

Charles J. Bechert, Vicki Schnadig, Ranjana Nawgiri

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin that occurs primarily in elderly or immunocompromised patients. For this report, the authors reviewed the diagnostic challenges associated with MCC encountered on their fine-needle aspiration (FNA) service and also conducted an in-depth review of the literature on MCC. A computer search for patients who were diagnosed with MCC by FNA at the authors' institution from 2006 to 2010 was conducted, and 5 patients were selected for cytologic and immunochemical analyses based on their varied and diagnostically challenging clinical presentations. The 5 selected patients had clinical findings commonly associated with MCC, including advanced age (4 of the 5 patients were ages 75-85 years) and a history of previous malignancies (3 of the 5 patients had a history of previous malignancy), and 1 patient was diagnosed with a concomitant low-grade lymphoma. The patients and their disease illustrated the protean clinical presentation of MCC and the clinical and cytologic challenges associated with this neoplasm. The current findings indicate the need for cytopathologists to be aware of the deceptive presentation of this neoplasm and its cytologic and immunochemical features to correctly diagnose this insidious neoplasm.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)179-188
Number of pages10
JournalCancer Cytopathology
Volume121
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2013

Keywords

  • Cytology
  • Fine-needle aspiration cytology
  • Merkel cell carcinoma
  • Neuroendocrine carcinoma
  • Polyomavirus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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