Merkel cell carcinoma presenting as malignant ascites: A case report and review of literature

INTRODUCTION

Peritoneal fluid cytology plays an important role in the diagnosis of metastatic tumors, especially in patients with a previously documented primary neoplasm. However, in some cases, a malignant effusion is the first manifestation of an occult malignancy. Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, and very aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor of the skin associated with high-risk of loco-regional and distant metastasis.[1] Although cases of metastatic MCC diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration have been reported,[2] the incidence of metastatic MCC in effusions is extremely uncommon. There are only two case reports of MCC metastatic to the pleural fluid.[34] To our knowledge, there have been no reports of MCC in ascitic fluid. Here, we describe the first case of MCC metastatic to the ascitic fluid. We focus on the cytologic findings, immunohistochemical stains, and differential diagnosis.

CASE REPORT

The patient is a 46-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain and new onset of ascites. There was no known prior diagnosis of MCC. Computerized tomography of the abdomen showed a cirrhotic liver with diffuse heterogeneous enhancing lesion at the porta hepatis measuring 4 cm × 2.7 cm and a 3.6 cm × 6.7 cm arterially enhancing lesion in hepatic segment IVa. The portal, superior mesenteric, and splenic veins were patent and normal in caliber. No gastroesophageal varices were present. A moderate amount of ascites was present. There were enlarged periportal, gastrohepatic, peripancreatic, retroperitoneal, and mesenteric lymph nodes seen. The largest node in the periportal region measured 2.8 cm x 2.7 cm. The radiologic impression was cirrhosis with multifocal arterially enhancing hepatic lesions and heterogeneous appearance of the liver concerning for diffusely infiltrating hepatocellular carcinoma with upper abdominal and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy likely representing metastatic disease. The tumor markers were within normal limits (AFP 9.2 ng/ml and CEA 1.3 ng/ml). The patient underwent paracentesis.

Cytologic findings

The thin prep smears stained with Papanicolaou showed malignant cells arranged singly [Figure 1], in clusters [Figure 2] and occasional single-file pattern [Figure 3]. The individual cells showed round to oval nuclei, irregular nuclear borders, stippled chromatin pattern, inconspicuous nucleoli, and scant cytoplasm [Figure 1]. Mitotic figures were identified [Figure 2]. Occasional nuclear molding was present.

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Figure 1

Loosely dispersed malignant cells with round to oval nuclei, irregular nuclear borders, stippled chromatin pattern, inconspicuous nucleoli, and scant cytoplasm (Papanicolaou, ×600)

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Figure 2

Malignant cells arranged in clusters with occasional mitotic figures (Papanicolaou, ×600)

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Figure 3

Malignant cells arranged in single-file pattern with focal nuclear molding (Papanicolaou stain, ×600)

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Histologic and immunohistochemical findings

The cell block preparation stained with hematoxylin and eosin showed loosely dispersed malignant cells with high nucleus to cytoplasmic ratio, fine to clumped chromatin pattern, occasional small inconspicuous nucleoli, irregular nuclear borders, and scant eosinophilic cytoplasm [Figure 4]. Occasional mitotic figures were identified. Immunohistochemical stains showed the tumor cells were immunoreactive for AE1/AE3, CK20 [Figure 5], chromogranin, synaptophysin, and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) monoclonal antibody (CM2B4) [Figure 6]. The tumor cells were negative for CK7, CEA, B72.3, CD45, CD138, CD56, TTF-1, BerEp4, S-100, Hep Par1, CK5/6, and calretinin.

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Figure 4

Cell block showing loosely dispersed malignant cells with high nucleus to cytoplasmic ratio, fine to clumped chromatin pattern, occasional small inconspicuous nucleoli, irregular nuclear borders, and scant eosinophilic cytoplasm (H and E, ×400)

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Figure 5

Tumor cells with “dot-like” rim pattern of staining with CK20 (×400)

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Figure 6

Few tumor cells showing nuclear staining with Merkel cell polyomavirus monoclonal antibody (CM2B4) (×400)

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DISCUSSION

MCC is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine tumor of the skin initially described in 1875 by Merkel.[5] It is often seen on the head and neck region in elderly patients. The cell of origin was initially believed to be mechanoreceptor. However, recent findings suggest the possibility of an epidermal stem cell origin.[6] The risk factors associated with MCC include ultraviolet-exposure, treatment with psoralen plus ultraviolet light therapy, and immunosuppression (patients with HIV, lymphoma, status postsolid organ transplantation, and patients on immunosuppressive therapy).[789] Given that MCC is often seen in elderly and immunocompromised patients, an infectious etiology was hypothesized as a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of MCC. This lead to the discovery of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) in 2008 by Feng et al.[10] In their study, six of eight MCPyV positive MCCs had viral DNA integrated within the tumor genome in a clonal pattern. Their results support that Merkel cell virus infection and genome integration occurred in the tumor prior to clonal expansion of tumor cells.

MCC has a predilection for the head and neck region and metastasis to the cervical, and the axillary lymph nodes are common. Distant metastases to other sites such as brain, heart, thoracic spine, and parotid have been reported.[11121314] In approximately 60% of metastases, there is a known history of primary MCC. Hence, MCC can be diagnosed on fine needle aspiration with the support of immunohistochemical stains.[2] However, in cases with no known primary MCC, as seen in this case, it can be a difficult diagnosis.

Metastatic MCC to effusions can be a diagnostic challenge. To date, there are only two reports of metastatic MCC to the pleural fluid.[34] The first case was from a patient with a prior diagnosis of MCC involving the left great toe who presented with extensive metastasis occurring over 20 years after primary resection and treatment.[4] The pleural fluid was highly cellular and showed single to loosely cohesive clusters of small cells approximating the size of a large lymphocyte or lymphoblast. The individual cells showed round to oval hyperchromatic nuclei, smooth nuclear borders, finely granular chromatin, tiny nucleoli, and scant to absent cytoplasm. Tumor cells arranged in pseudoglandular or rosette-like structures were also present. Electron microscopy showed cytoplasmic microfilaments and numerous dense-core peripheral neurosecretory granules. No immunohistochemical stains were performed. The second case of MCC in the pleural fluid was from a 77-year-old woman who initially presented with a right buttock mass.[3] The cytologic findings showed single cells with abundant round, basophilic nuclei, granular “salt and pepper” nuclear chromatin, and many mitosis. Immunohistochemical stains performed on the cell block showed characteristic “dot-like” rim pattern of staining with CK20. Although, our cytologic findings were similar to these two reported cases, our other findings were the presence of occasional nuclear molding and “single file” pattern which could mimic either small cell carcinoma in the former or lobular breast carcinoma in the latter. Immunohistochemical stains supportive of the diagnosis will include dot-like positivity for cytokeratin, CK20, and neuroendocrine markers (chromogranin, synaptophysin, and CD56). In 2009, a monoclonal antibody (CM2B4), generated against a predicted antigenic epitope on the MCV T-antigen was found useful in the diagnosis of MCC.[15] In their study, CM2B4 was positive in 68% of metastatic MCC and in 86% of primary MCC. Nuclear staining of tumor cells ranging from 5% to >75% was interpreted as positive. A caveat is that in neuroendocrine tumors of the skin associated with squamous cell carcinoma, CM2B4 stain is negative.

COMPETING INTERESTS STATEMENT BY ALL AUTHORS

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

AUTHORSHIP STATEMENT BY ALL AUTHORS

All authors of this article declare that we qualify for authorship as defined by ICMJE.

Each author has participated sufficiently in the work. DA provided substantial contributions to conception and design; MPN was responsible for drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and TH performed the final approval of the version to be published.

ETHICS STATEMENT BY ALL AUTHORS

Since this is a case report without identifiers, our institution does not require approval from the Institutional Review Board.

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS (In alphabetic order)

DSRCT - Desmoplastic small round cell tumor

HHV8 - Human herpes virus type 8

MCC - Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma

MCPyV - Merkel Cell Polyomavirus

PEL - Primary Effusion Lymphoma.

EDITORIAL/PEER-REVIEW STATEMENT

To ensure the integrity and the highest quality of CytoJournal publications, the review process of this manuscript was conducted under a double-blind model (authors are blinded for reviewers and vice versa) through automatic online system.