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Dermatoscopic vascular patterns in cutaneous Merkel cell carcinoma
Mandy S Harting1, Mathew W Ludgate, Douglas R Fullen
1Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
|October 8, 2011
Summary
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), an aggressive skin cancer, often has delayed diagnosis due to subtle clinical signs. Dermatoscopy revealed polymorphous vascular patterns, including milky-red areas and irregular vessels, though no specific diagnostic pattern was identified.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Oncology
- Cutaneous Malignancies
Background:
- Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive primary cutaneous malignancy with frequently delayed clinical diagnosis.
- Rarity and lack of characteristic features contribute to diagnostic delays.
- Dermatoscopy is valuable for other skin cancers, but its utility in MCC diagnosis is unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the dermatoscopic features of primary cutaneous Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).
- To correlate dermatoscopic findings with histopathologic parameters in MCC.
Main Methods:
- Dermatoscopic evaluation of 10 primary cutaneous MCC tumors.
- Recording of an 8-point histopathology profile for each tumor.
- Correlation analysis between dermatoscopic features and histopathologic parameters.
Main Results:
- All 10 MCC tumors exhibited irregular vascular patterns on dermatoscopy.
- Commonly observed features included milky-red areas/globules and linear irregular vessels.
- No significant correlation was found between dermatoscopic and histopathologic features.
Conclusions:
- Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) shows diverse dermatoscopic vascular patterns, including polymorphous vessels.
- While no specific pattern was identified, atypical vascularity suggests malignancy.
- Further research is needed to explore dermatoscopic-histopathologic correlations in MCC.
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