Neuroendocrine carcinoma (trabecular carcinoma) of the skin with ectopic ACTH production.

A case of ACTH-producing cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma occurring in the cheek of an 80-year-old woman is reported. The tumor was composed of undifferentiated cells which had a uniform round nucleus and scanty cytoplasm containing argyrophil granules. An ultrastructural study demonstrated neurosecretory-type granules in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. Radioimmunoassay revealed an elevated level of ACTH in tumor tissue as well as in the plasma of the patient. This is believed to be the first documented case of ACTH-producing neuroendocrine carcinoma (trabecular carcinoma) of the skin.