Merkel-cell carcinoma
(Redirected from Merkel cell carcinoma)
Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC
| Merkel-cell carcinoma | |
|---|---|
| |
| Synonyms | Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin, Trabecular carcinoma of the skin |
| Pronounce | N/A |
| Specialty | N/A |
| Symptoms | Painless, firm, shiny skin nodule |
| Complications | Metastasis |
| Onset | Typically after age 50 |
| Duration | Chronic |
| Types | N/A |
| Causes | Merkel cell polyomavirus, Ultraviolet light exposure |
| Risks | Immunosuppression, fair skin, excessive sun exposure |
| Diagnosis | Biopsy and histopathology |
| Differential diagnosis | Basal cell carcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma, Melanoma |
| Prevention | Sun protection, avoidance of immunosuppression |
| Treatment | Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy |
| Medication | N/A |
| Prognosis | Variable, depends on stage |
| Frequency | Rare |
| Deaths | N/A |
Merkel-cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer that usually appears as a flesh-colored or bluish-red nodule, often on your face, head or neck. Merkel-cell carcinoma is also called neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin.
Causes[edit | edit source]
MCC is believed to be caused by a combination of factors, including long-term sun exposure and a weakened immune system. The Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is also associated with most cases of MCC.
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
The most common symptom of MCC is a fast-growing, painless nodule (bump) on your skin. The nodule may be skin-colored or may appear in shades of red, blue or purple. Most often, the nodule will appear on a sun-exposed area, such as your face, neck or scalp.
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Diagnosis of MCC often involves a skin biopsy, where a sample of the suspicious skin is removed and examined under a microscope. Other tests, such as imaging tests and sentinel lymph node biopsy, may also be used to determine the extent of the cancer.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment options for MCC include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. In some cases, a combination of these treatments may be used. Immunotherapy is a newer treatment option that uses the body's immune system to fight the cancer.
Prognosis[edit | edit source]
The prognosis for MCC varies greatly depending on the stage of the disease at diagnosis. Early detection and treatment can significantly improve the prognosis.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
