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Merkel cell carcinoma can be distinguished from metastatic small cell carcinoma using antibodies to cytokeratin 20
S N Leech1, A J Kolar, P D Barrett
1Department of Dermatology, Dryburn Hospital, North Road, Durham DH1 5TW, UK.
Aim:
To investigate whether immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin 20 (CK20) and thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) is useful in distinguishing Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs) from metastatic small cell carcinomas (SCCs).
Methods:
Eleven cases of MCC and 10 of lung SCC were stained for CK20 and TTF-1.
Results:
Ten of 11 MCCs stained with the antibody to CK20. None was positive for TTF-1. No SCC stained with anti-CK20 and all stained strongly with anti-TTF-1.
Conclusions:
The use of both anti-CK20 and anti-TTF-1 can reliably distinguish between MCC and metastatic SCC, thus avoiding the need for a detailed clinical investigation of patients with MCC in whom metastatic SCC must be excluded.
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