ABSTRACT
Dermoscopy of Merkel cell carcinoma shares with many other criteria of malignancy: polymorphous vessels, linear-irregular vessels, and milky-red areas. Merkel cell carcinoma should be considered if a dermoscopic atypical vascular pattern is seen within a cutaneous tumor. Cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma, also known as Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), is a rare and aggressive tumor. Metastatic potential is also very high since approximately 40% of the patients will develop distant organ involvement and about 30% will die within the first 5 years after diagnosis. Management of MCC is not clearly defined by widely acknowledged international guidelines. Dermoscopy does not typically change management for large MCC since rapidly growing, obviously locally aggressive skin tumors will require immediate biopsy that will lead to appropriate diagnosis within a few days. However in smaller lesions, dermoscopy can be used to help differentiate MCC from other non-pigmented cutaneous tumors.
