An infrequent but highly malignant type of skin
cancer. Characteristically starts in a sun-exposed area (of the head, neck, arms
or legs) in whites 60-80 years of age as a firm, painless, shiny lump that can be
red, pink, or blue in color and vary in size from less than a quarter of an inch
(a half cm) to more than two inches (5 cm) in diameter. The tumor grows rapidly
and often metastasizes (spreads) to other parts of the body. Even relatively small
tumors are capable of metastasis, particularly to the regional (nearby) lymph nodes.
Merkel cell carcinoma follows an aggressive course like that of melanoma, and has
a predilection to spread to (in order of frequency) liver, bone, brain, lung, and
skin. The prognosis (outlook) is accordingly poor.
"Merkel" is often misspelled as "Merkle." The disease is named for the German
anatomist and pathologist Friedrich Sigmund Merkel (1845-1919) and is also called
neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin.
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