[Merkel-cell tumor associated with a spinocelluar epithelioma. Apropos a case report]

One case of Merkel cell carcinoma is reported in a 71 years-old woman. Lately treated by surgical excision (14 years after the occurrence of the tumour), this tumour was already associated with inguinal lymph node metastases. Its evolution was lethal within 3 months after local recurrence, cutaneous and visceral (lung, liver) metastases. This tumour, characteristic histologically and ultrastructurally (secretory granules), was accompanied by an infiltrative epidermoid carcinoma. This association and the presence of cytokeratin in tumoral Merkel cells are arguments for the common origin of keratinocytes and neuroendocrine Merkel cells from a common young epithelial cell.