Merkel Cells, Normal and Neoplastic: An Update

Merkel cells (MC) occur in the basal epidermal layer, hair follicles, and oral mucosa, as complexes with sensory axons. The axons transduce slowly adapting type I mechanoreception, and MC modulate their sensitivity. MC also determine and maintain the 3-dimensional epidermal structure. They have neuroendocrine granules, rigid spinous processes, and desmosomal junctions with each other and with keratinocytes. Rare MC are dermaWl. Current evidence supports a basal cell origin. Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) occur mostly in sun-exposed skin in old age. Trabecular, intermediate, or small cell in pattern, MCC have neuroendocrine granules, intercellular junctions, rigid spinous processes, and a paranuclear collection of intermediate filaments staining for cytokeratin 20. Most MCC behave indolently, but those with the small cell pattern, and some with the intermediate pattern, are aggressive and rapidly fatal.