Small cell carcinoma of skin: a report of two cases

Abstract

We present two cases of small cell carcinoma of skin and review the evidence for the origin of these tumours from Merkel cells situated in the basal layers of the epidermis. The aggressive behaviour of these tumours makes their initial histological diagnosis important if careful follow-up is to be instituted and we suggest that more radical primary treatment might improve results. We emphasise the need to exclude an origin from other sites apart from skin and the role of electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry in identifying these tumours as being distinct from other poorly differentiated carcinomas.