Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Impression Cytology of the Lid Wiper Area
Published on: August 9, 2016
[Merkel cell carcinoma of the upper lid]
1Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Klinik für Kiefer- und Plastische Gesichtschirurgie, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. wolfgang.schmitt@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
Aims:
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the skin is a rare form of cutaneous malignancy of neuroendocrine origin with a propensity to form cutaneous and lymphogenous metastases. The tumor, affecting predominately elderly patients, has a significantly higher incidence in female patients (80%) compared to male patients (20%). The mainstay of therapy is surgical resection with possible adjuvant radio- or chemotherapy.
Case Report:
A case of a 78-year-old patient with a MCC of the upper lid without lymph node involvement or distant metastasis is described. The tumor was resected and the defect closed by a temporal skin flap performing a temporary cantholysis. The clinical follow-up revealed an undisturbed eye lid function without any clinical or radiological signs of a locoregional or distant recurrence.
