Merkel cell tumor is a primary malignant skin tumor, first reported by Toker in 1972,
and has been reported by different names, including trabecular carcinoma, cutaneous
APUDoma, primary neuroendocrine carcinoma, and primary small cell carcinoma of the
skin. It is characterized by trabecular or anastomosing cord-like arrangement of uniform,
round to oval tumor cells with scanty cytoplasm mainly in the dermic and extending in
subcutaneous tissue. Ultrastructurally dense core neurosecretory granules 120 to 210 am
in diameter are found in the cytoplasm of tumor cells which resemble those found in
the Merkel cells.
The authors report a case of Merkel cell tumor arisen in the tip of left index finger
associates with squamous carcinoma in the tip of left thumb. The tumor of index finger
fulfills the characteristics of Merkel cell tumor including positive argyrophilic stain and
that of thumb finger shows typical squamous cell carcinoma.
Association between these two skin tumors may suggest a common carcinogenic
influence for squamous and neuroendocrine carcinomas of the skin.
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