Me rkel Cell Carcinoma : An Indian Experience

Abstract- Merkel cell carcinoma [MCC] is a rare neoplasm of skin with an aggressive behaviour and unfavourable prognosis. MCC mainly occurs in the elderly, in the sun exposed areas of skin. Indian’s experiences regarding patients’ profiles, clinical presentation, age of occurrence, pattern of tumour are very limited as well as challenging. This retrospective study was performed, in a tertiary care hospital in Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India, reviewing the cases of five patients. In our cases we try to elaborate data regarding the age of occurrences, presentation, and behaviour of tumour and prognosis of MCC. The patients’ profiles, clinical presentation, age of occurrence & the tumour characteristics including histopathological and immunohistochemical profiles are similar to the cases presented in other parts of world. Keywords: merkel cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumour, skin tumour. GJMR-C Classification : NLMC Code: QZ 365, WP 460 MerkelCellCarcinomaAnIndianExperience