​Dermatology - Merkel Cell Carcinoma

​Dermatology - Merkel Cell Carcinoma 
Merkel cell carcinoma, also known as cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor, is an uncommon form of solid tumor that is mostly found in Caucasians and often manifests beyond the age of 50. Individuals with immunosuppression experience it 10–30 times more frequently.


The tumor can appear on the head or the extremities, and it can be single or numerous.
Damage
The lesion is a pink, red to violet, or reddish brown, dome-shaped, cutaneous to subcutaneous papule, nodule, or tumor (0.5–5 cm), generally solitary. Greater lesions have the potential to ulcerate, although the skin above remains intact.


The diagnosis is made clinically, and immunohistopathology and biopsy confirm it.

Excision and Mohs surgical repair are the methods of treatment. Given the high incidence of regional metastases, proactive regional node dissection or sentinel node biopsy is recommended.
With the exception of extremely tiny lesions, radiation therapy is usually necessary. The prognosis is uncertain and recurrence rates are high even with treatment.