Concurrent Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Merkel Cell Carcinoma in Primary Skin Tumor and Metastatic Lymph Node

Abstract

Association between chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other malignancies has been known for a long time. This epidemiological phenomenon is explained by immunosuppression caused by disease itself or by the applied therapy. Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor of the skin of neuroendocrine origin diagnosed almost exclusively in immunocompromised host. We presented an unique case of coexisting infiltration of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells within primary cutaneous Merkel cell carcinoma and metastatic lymph node in young HIV-negative female patient.