MRI of merkel cell carcinoma: histologic correlation and review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine the MRI characteristics of Merkel cell carcinoma, with an emphasis on histologic correlation.


METHODS
The demographic information about 15 patients from our institution and their MRI examinations were retrospectively reviewed by three musculoskeletal radiologists by consensus for lesion location and intrinsic characteristics. The study group was composed of three women and 12 men who ranged in age from 48 to 87 years, with a mean age of 75 years. Histology results of resected specimens were reviewed in all cases and were correlated with imaging.


RESULTS
MRI showed skin thickening, subcutaneous reticular stranding (n = 9, 60%); multiple anatomically aligned subcutaneous soft-tissue masses, representing lymphatic tumor nodules (n = 5, 33%); lymph node enlargement with fine, compressed, retained fatty tissue (n = 5, 33%); nodal necrosis (n = 1); and perifascial and intramuscular metastases (n = 2). Histology confirmed the lymphatic nature of the soft-tissue Merkel cell tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with Merkel cell tumors may present at imaging with subcutaneous lymphatic reticular stranding, multiple subcutaneous masses, and lymph node metastases. Often there is massive lymph node enlargement with fine, compressed, retained fatty tissue.
Anderson
Suzanne E
SE
Department of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, University Hospital of Bern, Inselspital, Freiburg Strasse, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. suzanne.anderson@bluewin.ch
Beer
Karl T
KT
Banic
Andrej
A
Steinbach
Lynne S
LS
Martin
Matthias
M
Friedrich
Esther E
EE
Stauffer
Edouard
E
Vock
Peter
P
Greiner
Richard H
RH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*