“Margaritaville” singer Jimmy Buffett died of Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare but aggressive form of skin cancer, according to a tribute posted on his official websiteopens in a new tab or window.

The 76-year-old music icon was diagnosed with the disease 4 years ago and had been undergoing treatment.

MedPage Today asked Raman Madan, MD, a dermatologist and assistant clinical professor at Northwell Health in New York, to weigh in on what physicians and patients should know about the uncommon diagnosis.

Indeed, Merkel cell carcinoma is incredibly rare, Madan told MedPage Today. He may see a patient diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma once every few years, while he may see a patient diagnosed with melanoma, a much more common form of skin cancer, once a week.

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