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Malignant Merkel Cell Neoplasm of the Eyelid
Steven S. Searl, MD;
James R. Boynton, MD;
Walter Markowitch, MD;
P. Anthony diSant'Agnese, MD
Arch Ophthalmol. 1984;102(6):907-911.
Abstract
• Malignant Merkel cell neoplasms of the eyelid are most commonly found in elderly patients. They occur most frequently on the upper eyelid and are seen as large, nontender, red or violaceous masses with intact overlying skin. Differential diagnosis includes lymphoma and oat cell carcinoma. Conventional light microscopic features are usually distinctive, but tissue should be saved for electron microscopy and immunocytochemical studies, since the presence of dense-core neurosecretory granules and perinuclear microfilaments on electron microscopic examination and positive staining for neuron-specific enolase, are strongly suggestive of malignant Merkel cell neoplasm. Because of the diffuse infiltrative growth pattern and early lymphatic spread of this tumor, treatment requires careful examination of regional lymph nodes and wide surgical excision of the tumor with frozen-section control of margins.
Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Ophthalmology (Drs Searl and Boynton) and Pathology (Drs Searl and diSant'Agnese), University of Rochester (NY) Medical Center; and the Department of Pathology, Genesee Hospital, Rochester, NY (Dr Markowitch).
Footnotes
Accepted for publication Jan 13, 1984.
Read in part before the Eastern Ophthalmic Pathology Society meeting, Boston, Oct 9, 1983.
Reprint requests to the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Ave, PO Box 659, Rochester, NY 14642 (Dr Searl).
This investigation was supported in part by a grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. Michael Goldberg, MD, and Mary Sue Napoleon, MD, referred cases 1 and 2, respectively. Karen DeMesy Jensen prepared the electron micrographs.
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