title: Merkel cell carcinoma: case report.
abstract: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. Although it is 40 times less common than malignant melanoma, its mortality is much higher compared to melanoma. From 1986 to 2001 there was rapidly increasing incidence in reported cases of MCC, with a tripling in the rate over this 15-year period. The vast majority of MCC presents on sun-exposed skin. The head and neck area is the most common site of tumor occurrence. We present 70-year old female patient with painless red-colored nodule, size 2 x 2 x 2 cm on the dorsal side of mid left forearm. The surgical excision with negative margins was performed, and pathohistological analysis confirmed Merkel cell carcinoma. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was negative. In conclusion, as MCC is a very aggressive rare skin carcinoma with lethal outcome, it should be mandatory to perform biopsies of any suspected skin lesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatovenerology, Clinical Hospital Osijek, Osijek, Croatia. sustic.nela@kbo.hr
authors.forename: Nela
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sustić
authors.forename: Darko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biljan
authors.forename: Zelimir
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Orkić
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lizatović
authors.forename: Jasminka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Milas-Ahić
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery