Merkel cell palpebral tumors Three cases

The Merkel cell tumor was recently recognized (1972) as an individual malignant skin tumor. On the basis of a review of the literature and of three personal observations, the authors have defined the clinical, pathological and evolutional characteristics of palpebral localizations. Its frequency is evaluated at 7.8%.The Merkel cell tumor is mainly located in the upper eyelid. Its clinical symptomatology is not very specific. The aspect is nodular and angiomatous.The diagnosis is made on the pathology. It concerns an intra-dermal proliferation of small regular cells, with a large nucleus and reduced cytoplasm and arranged in sheets. A positive reaction with the antineuronic specific antibodies, enolase, anticytokeratin, antineurofilament, epithelial membrane anti-antigen and antiprotein S100, is revealed by the immunohistochemical study. A negative reaction is observed with the anti-antigen antibodies common to leucocytes. The evidence of neurosecretory granules and paranuclear intermediate filaments by el...