If your doctor suspects you have Merkel cell carcinoma, you will need a thorough evaluation to confirm the diagnosis. Your evaluation will include a thorough physical exam and a detailed review of your medical history, including previous skin cancers and family history of cancer.
Your care team will take the time to explain your diagnosis and treatment options in a way that you can easily understand. We will work with you to explore all your options and ensure you feel comfortable with your treatment plan.
During this test, we remove a small sample of your skin so a pathologist can examine it under a microscope. We also use a test called sentinel node biopsy to check if cancer has spread to your lymph nodes.
We use specialized biomarkers, including Amerk test to polyomavirus antibody and ctDNA to help with evaluation, diagnosis and surveillance of Merkel cell cancer.
We use imaging tests to determine the extent of the cancer and to see if it has spread to other parts of the body.
Imaging tests we use include:
- CT scan: Creates detailed images of the inside of the body using X-rays
- PET scan: A type of nuclear medicine scan that helps detect cancer cells throughout the body
