Abstract

We recently treated case of Merkel cell carcinoma of the right cheek. The patient, an 83-year old japanese woman, complained of a nodule on her left cheek measuring 40×40×10mm. The tumor was a cutaneous nodule with reddish-purple overlying skin. Histologically, the tumor invaded the dermis and subcutaneous tissue and did not exend into the epidermis. The tumor cells were small sized and showed a monotonously uniform appearance. They had round nuclei and scant cytoplasm. We performed wide local excision, radical neck dissection and used the radial forearm flap for reconstruction of the right cheek.