Merkel-cell carcinoma
![](/Images/godic/202502/17/Merkel_cell_carcinoma_-_very_high_mag4208.jpg")
![Merkel-cell carcinoma. Gross pathology specimen](/Images/godic/202502/17/Merkel_Cell_Carcinoma_buttock_45-year-old_woman4209.jpg")
![Small spot on the left arm is Merkel-cell cancer](/Images/godic/202502/17/Merkel_cell_carcinoma_arm4209.jpg")
![Merkel-cell carcinoma (arrow) infiltrating skin tissue, stained brown for Merkel cell polyomavirus large T protein. Approximately 80% of MCC tumors are infected with MCV.](/Images/godic/202502/17/Merkelcellcarcinoma_Tag4209.jpg")
Merkel-cell carcinoma is a rare and highly aggressive skin cancer, which, in most cases, is caused by the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) discovered by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh in 2008. It is also known as cutaneous APUDoma, primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin, primary small cell carcinoma of the skin, and trabecular carcinoma of the skin.