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In 1875, FRIEDRICH Sigmund Merkel (1845-1919) described a unique epidermal nondendritic, nonkeratinocyte cell, which he called a tactile cell (Tastzelle). This cell, now bearing his name, was thought to be a primary touch receptor.1 Merkel cells are now generally believed to be primary neural cells,...

The acute and late toxicities of synchronous carboplatin, etoposide, and radiation therapy were prospectively assessed in a group of patients with high-risk Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin. Patients and Methods: Forty patients from six different centers throughout Australia were entered into a Pha...

Merkel cell carcinoma (primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma, trabecular carcinoma) is a rare but often lethal tumor of uncertain histogenesis. Five cases were originally described by Toker in 1972 as “trabecular carcinoma of the skin.” This name was derived from the most characteristic (bu...

In the general population Merkel’s cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer. More than 600 cases have been reported. MCC seems to be common in transplant recipients, with 41 cases being reported to the Cincinnati Transplant Tumor Registry, and another 11 in the transpla...