[Merkel cell carcinoma in otolaryngology]

The authors presented two cases of Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare malignant neoplasm of neuroendocrine origin located in parabasal layer of epithelium. The first described case was 67 year old woman, after resection of primary tumor of eyelid, with metastases in lymph nodes of parotid gland. The second case was 44 year old woman with the primary tumor in retroauricular region. The patient underwent radiotherapy 23 years earlier due to malignant lymphoma. Basing on the available literature the authors discussed clinical and histological features of this malignancy, they stressed the important role of immunohistochemical tests in the diagnosis.