Abstract
In July 2008, a 98-year-old woman visited Shiroyama-Migita Clinic because of a six-month history of a gradually growing red-colored nodule on her right cheek. Subsequently, she was referred to our hospital. Clinical examination revealed a red-colored, 40mm sized firm ulcerated nodule on her right cheek and a red-colored plaque near the nodule. Clinical diagnosis was SCC. The tumor was excised with a 2cm margin. Histological examination revealed diffuse sheets and solid nests located in the dermis and subcutaneous fat. The tumor was a small blue neoplasm composed of cells of uniform size with round nucleus and scant cytoplasm. The tumor cells showed AE1/AE3-, cytokeratin 20-, chromogranin-and synaptophysin-positive. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed as having Merkel cell carcinoma. Erythematous plaque was diagnosed as actinic keratosis.[Skin Cancer (Japan) 2009 ; 24 : 283-286]
