Differentiating Merkel cell carcinoma of lymph nodes without a detectable primary skin tumor from other metastatic neuroendocrine carcinomas: The ELECTHIP criteria

摘要

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) can present as a cutaneous tumor or a lymph node metastasis without a primary tumor. MCC presenting without a primary tumor (MCCWOPT) can be misinterpreted on histologic examination as lymph node metastasis (LNM) from another neuroendocrine carcinoma (LNMNEC). However, this distinction is crucial for therapeutic management.