Etymed
merkel cell carcinoma
Definition
A malignant tumor arising from Merkel cells, which are neuroendocrine cells found in the skin
Clinical context
A 78-year-old man presents with a rapidly growing, painless, flesh-colored nodule on his head that has been present for 2 months. The lesion is firm and measures 1.5 cm in diameter. On examination, it has a shiny, pearly appearance with telangiectatic blood vessels. Biopsy reveals small, round cells with high nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio and mitotic activity, consistent with a neuroendocrine tumor. This patient's tumor likely arose from Merkel cells in the skin.
Mnemonic
Merkel cells = neuroendocrine cells in skin = small cell carcinoma
These morphemes also unlock…
- Merkel — named after Friedrich Merkel (German anatomist)
- cell — small room; basic unit of life
- carcin/o — cancer; crab
- -oma — tumor; mass