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Cytological and Immunocytochemical Features of Merkel Cell Carcinoma on Fine Needle Cytology Samples: A Study of 22 Cases

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Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an uncommon neuroendocrine small cell tumor derived from the transformation of the homonymous cells in the basal layer of the epidermis. MCC has a generally aggressive course, with a high tendency for local recurrence, lymph node involvement, and distant metastasis. Fine needle cytology (FNC) and immunocytochemistry were used as diagnostic procedures for 22 cases of MCC presented at our institute. All cases of MCC were successfully diagnosed on FNC. Among all of the monoclonal antisera used (CD56, CK20, CK MNF116, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), synaptophysin, and chromogranin), NSE and CD56 showed the highest frequency of positivity. The accuracy of the cytological diagnosis was 100 % compared to the corresponding previous or subsequent pathological diagnoses. FNC and immunocytochemistry represent excellent and accurate diagnostic methods to distinguish MCC from other small-cell malignant entities.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Dr. Fernando Caccavello. They also thank Dr. Alessandra Trocino for her precious librarian contributions.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest regarding the production of this article. The authors have no personal financial or institutional interest in any of the drugs, materials, or devices described in this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. S.S.D. di Citopatologia e S.C. di Anatomia Patologica, Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, via Mariano Semmola, 80131, Napoli, Italy

    Anna Cipolletta Campanile, Maria Gabriella Malzone, Veronica Sanna, Angela Manna, Antonella Gioioso & Annarosaria De Chiara

  2. Laboratorio di Citopatologia, Istituto Cantonale di Patologia, via A. Franzoni 45, 6601, Locarno, Switzerland

    Jessica Barizzi & Franco Fulciniti

Authors
  1. Anna Cipolletta Campanile
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  2. Maria Gabriella Malzone
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  3. Veronica Sanna
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  4. Jessica Barizzi
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  5. Angela Manna
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  6. Antonella Gioioso
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  7. Annarosaria De Chiara
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  8. Franco Fulciniti
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Correspondence to Maria Gabriella Malzone.

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Cipolletta Campanile, A., Malzone, M.G., Sanna, V. et al. Cytological and Immunocytochemical Features of Merkel Cell Carcinoma on Fine Needle Cytology Samples: A Study of 22 Cases. Endocr Pathol 26, 243–249 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-015-9375-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-015-9375-6

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