title: Merkel cell carcinoma arising on a pre-existing Bowen's disease: is it just by chance?
abstract: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a cutaneous carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation. It arises typically on sun-exposed areas of elderly men as an asymptomatic, rapidly growing, red nodule. Although it is usually found as a solitary nodule, in almost one third of cases MCC may be associated with other malignancies such as basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas. Merkel cell carcinoma should be considered as differential diagnosis every time we have a rapidly growing, red nodule, arising in an elderly patient with signs of sun-damage. We report a case of MCC developing in association with a pre-existing Bowen's disease. The association between MCC and Bowen's disease is quite common and their area of occurrence is usually a sun-exposed area. Ultraviolet radiation contributes to the etiology of both the malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casari
authors.affiliation: Unit of Skin Cancer, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Argenziano
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pathology, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piana
authors.affiliation: Unit of Skin Cancer, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Aimilios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lallas
authors.affiliation: Unit of Skin Cancer, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moscarella
authors.affiliation: Unit of Skin Cancer, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.affiliation: Unit of Skin Cancer, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellacani
authors.affiliation: Unit of Skin Cancer, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy - longo.caterina@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longo
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001913:Bowen's Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects