title: Clinicopathologic and electron microscopic study of cutaneous neuroendocrine (Merkel cell) carcinoma in a cat with comparisons to human and canine tumors.
abstract: Malignant neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin (Merkel cell tumor) was diagnosed in an 18-year-old spayed female Maine Coon Cat. The diagnosis was made on the basis of morphologic and electron microscopic findings. The cat was euthanatized 321 days after surgical excision of the tumor. The tumor's malignancy contrasted with the benign nature of Merkel cell tumors reported in dogs and was consistent with the malignancy of Merkel cell tumors reported in humans.
authors.affiliation: The Bobst Hospital of the Animal Medical Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Patnaik
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Erlandson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004285:Dogs; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000662:veterinary*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000662:veterinary*