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Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck associated with Bowen's disease

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Summary

The Merkel cell carcinoma occurs primarily in the skin of the head and neck, and develops in the dermis with a trabecular growth pattern. Immunohistochemistry reveals positive staining for neuron-specific enolase, neurofilaments, cytokeratin and chromogranin A. Electron microscopically, the tumor cells contain dense-core granules, spinous cytoplasmic processes, desmosomes, zonulae adherentes and paranuclear filament aggregates besides frequent mitoses, focal necroses and lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltrates. The Merkel cell carcinoma is often co-existent with other malignancies such as squamous cell carcinoma or, as in the present study, with Bowen's disease. The definite diagnosis of the Merkel cell carcinoma can be effected only by electron microscopic examination of the tumor.

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Author notes

  1. P. Schenk

    Present address: Department of Otorhinolaryngology II, University of Vienna Medical School, Alserstrasse 4, A-1090, Vienna, Austria

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology I, University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria

    K. Konrad

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  1. P. Schenk
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  2. K. Konrad
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Dedicated to Prof. K. Burian on the occasion of his 70th birthday

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Schenk, P., Konrad, K. Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck associated with Bowen's disease. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 248, 436–441 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00627629

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00627629

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