title: Feline cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma (Merkel cell tumour): clinical and pathological findings.
abstract: A case of a feline Merkel cell tumour is described. An 8-year-old, female cat developed a round, alopecic, reddish mass on the nose. Wide excisional surgery was performed with cartilage resection. Histologically the mass was composed of solid islands of mostly basophilic densely packed cells with a scant cytoplasm, which was suggestive of a neuroendocrine origin. Results of immunohistochemical studies using antibodies against neurone-specific enolase, chromogranin, synaptophysin and pan-cytokeratin allowed classification of the lesion as a Merkel cell tumour. Ultrastructurally, dense core granules were identified in the cytoplasm. In a 2-year follow-up no relapses or metastases were observed. The clinical course recorded is in contrast with the malignant nature of a Merkel cell tumour recently described in a cat and of the human Merkel cell tumour, but is similar to the course of the canine Merkel cell tumour which is often benign. Early diagnosis along with the use of wide surgical excision might be considered an important factor in preventing relapse of this tumour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Laboratory of Pathology, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bagnasco
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Properzi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nardini
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abramo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D009666:Nose; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*