Researchers from the University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Researcher Center have described the clinical characteristics of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). The details of this study were reported in the March, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.¹

Merkal cell carcinoma is a neuroendocrine cancer of the skin. Advanced disease has a high mortality rate (33%), and earlier diagnosis may lead to improved treatment. However, the characteristics of this relatively rare cancer (1,500 cases/year in the United States) are poorly described.

These researchers looked at the characteristics of 195 patients who were diagnosed between 1980 and 2007. They describe the following characteristics:

• Disease was asymptomatic despite rapid growth.
• More than half the lesions were pink or red.
• 56% were thought to be benign at time of biopsy.
• The median delay from appearance to biopsy was three months.
• 81% occurred in sun-exposed areas of the skin.
• 90% of patients were older than 50 years of age.
• 98% were Caucasian.
• Immune suppression was present in 8%.
• The occurrence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia was increased by 30-fold.

Comments: The above features should alert physicians to the possibility of Merkel cell carcinoma. The disease can be treated with surgery, surgery plus radiation, or/and chemotherapy depending on the stage at diagnosis.

Reference: 

¹ Heath M, Jaimes N, Lemos B, et al. Clinical characteristics of Merkel cell carcinoma at diagnosis in 195 patients: the AEOU features. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2008;58:375-381.