title: Dermoscopy of Merkel cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous tumor whose clinical presentation, usually a pink nodule, is not specific. We aimed in this study to determine the dermoscopic criteria encountered in MCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  From our image database we selected the patients diagnosed with MCC and scored the dermoscopic criteria shown by these tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten patients coming from three different academic hospitals were studied. Vascular structures were the more relevant dermoscopic features. In 8 out of 10 (80%) patients a polymorphic vascular pattern was seen, composed of milky-red clods/areas in association with one or more additional vascular structures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although an overlap existed between the dermoscopic features observed in MCC and amelanotic melanoma, the presence of a polymorphous vascular pattern may constitute an additional clinical clue to accurately diagnose this rare tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre-Bénite, France. stephane.dalle@chu-lyon.fr
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dalle
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parmentier
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moscarella
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Phan
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Argenziano
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018328:Melanoma, Amelanotic / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*