Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

13:45
Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection and Detection
Published on: February 7, 2019
Merkel cell carcinoma in a young pregnant woman
1Department of Plastic Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland. Heli.kukko@hus.fi
Abstract
Summary:
We present a 27-year-old pregnant woman with Merkel cell carcinoma on the forehead. In early pregnancy, the lesion was excised as an epidermal cyst. It was only after recurrence that a diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma was made. Sentinel-node biopsy, excision with 2 cm margins and reconstruction with free microvascular radial forearm flap was carried out, and the patient received postoperative radiotherapy. No evidence of recurrence or disease progression was found 24 months after surgery.
Related Concept Videos
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when there is an abnormal growth of skin cells, usually triggered by damage to the DNA within the skin cells. It is primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide, and its incidence continues to rise.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
