Immunohistochemistry for Merkel cell polyomavirus is highly specific but not sensitive for the diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma in the Australian population
Recent studies have demonstrated a high frequency of detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus
in Merkel cell carcinoma. However, most of these studies are from European or North
American centers that have relatively low sun exposure and may have a higher incidence of
virus-driven oncogenesis compared with the highly sun-exposed but predominantly fair-
skinned Australian population. We performed immunohistochemistry for Merkel cell
polyomavirus on 104 cases of Merkel cell carcinoma and 74 cases of noncutaneous small …
in Merkel cell carcinoma. However, most of these studies are from European or North
American centers that have relatively low sun exposure and may have a higher incidence of
virus-driven oncogenesis compared with the highly sun-exposed but predominantly fair-
skinned Australian population. We performed immunohistochemistry for Merkel cell
polyomavirus on 104 cases of Merkel cell carcinoma and 74 cases of noncutaneous small …