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Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection and Detection
Published on: February 7, 2019
Merkel cell carcinoma -- a rarity in the urogenital tract
Bernhard Schwindl1, Andreas Meissner, Josef Giedl
1Department of Urology, Klinikum Weiden, Germany. bernhard.schwindl@klinikum-weiden.de
Background:
Merkel cell carcinoma -- a rare, aggressive cancer of the skin integument - is being increasingly diagnosed but represents an absolute rarity in the urogenital tract.
Case Report:
We report on a 70-year-old man who was referred to us with suspected testicular cancer. The pathology report revealed a metastasized Merkel cell carcinoma. Fulminant disease progression under chemo-therapy (regimen as for small cell lung cancer) resulted in death 5 months later.
Conclusion:
The patient described is considered to be the first to develop testicular metastasis derived from Merkel cell carcinoma. Besides neuroendocrine and epithelial antigen tests, somatostatin receptor scintigraphy is a helpful diagnostic tool. New receptor-associated therapies may allow more effective and less toxic treatment modalities in the mostly elderly or immune deficient patients.
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