Catalog

Merkel cell carcinoma of skin

No MMS code

Link to WHO Definition

Merkel cell carcinoma of skin – http://id.who.int/icd/entity/1020467726

A rare malignant cutaneous tumour seen in elderly patients. Its usual location is on the head, neck and extremities. The tumour is composed of small round cells with scanty cytoplasm arranged in a trabecular pattern, or in ill-defined nodules or in a diffuse pattern. The tumour cells contain cytoplasmic membrane-bound dense core granules resembling neurosecretory granules. There is strong evidence implicating Merkel cell polyoma virus in a majority of cases of Merkel cell carcinoma.