Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma 

Updated: 03/17/2021

© Jun Wang, MD, PhD

General features
  • Most common skin cancer
  • Usually > 40 years of age
  • Multiple BCCs may develop early if nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome
  • Mainly sun exposed skin, especially hair-bearing areas
  • Slow growing, rarely metastasize
Risk factors
  • Exposure to natural and artificial ultraviolet light
  • Radiation
  • Gene mutations
  • Existing actinic keratosis
  • Arsenic exposure, immunosuppression, albinism, alcohol, xeroderma pigmentosum
Key pathogenesis
  • UV
UVB: most carcinogenic, absorbed by DNA
DNA damage and p53 mutation
  • DNA mismatch repair defect
  • PTCH mutation
Hedgehog pathway
Causes loss of inhibition of SMO, results in constant activation
Seen in nevoidbasal cell carcinoma syndrome, sporadic basal cell carcinomas and Xeroderma pigmentosum associated basal cell carcinoma
Clinical features
Key pathological features
Multifocal growth
Irregular budding from basal layer
  • Nodular type
Nodular growth of tumor cells
  • Morpheaform
Irregular cords or nests of tumor cells
Fibrotic stroma
Higher recurrence rate
Likely perineural invasion
Mohs surgery indicated
  • Other variant: basasquamous cell carcinoma, clear cell type, etc
Management
  • Excision
  • Radiation
  • Photodynamic therapy
  • Hedgehog pathway inhibitors



Back to skin tumors
Back to contents

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Contents

Pathology notes Jun Wang, MD, PhD 1. General information Frequently discussed syndromes Terms of dermatology Terms of hematology 2. Primary immunodeficiency disorders 3. Hemodynamic abnormalities Shock Thrombosis and embolism Bleeding disorders 4.  Benign blood cell disorders Anemia Benign white cell disorders 5. Hematopoietic neoplasms Lymphoid neoplasms Myeloid neoplasms Histiocytic neoplasms: Langerhans cell histiocytosis 6. Cardiovascular system Pulmonary hypertension Cardiovascular system tumors 7. Respiratory tract tumors 8. Gastrointestinal tract Congenital disorders Infectious gastroenteritis Oral cavity Esophagus Stomach Intestinal tumors Salivary glands Exocrine pancreas and gallbladder 9. Urinary system Kidney masses Lower urinary tract 10. Male reproductive system 11. Female genital tract 12. Breast 13. Endocrine organs Pituitary gland Adrenal gland Thyroid gland Parathyroid gland Endocrine pancreas M
Read more

Anemia

Anemia Updated: 07/13/2024 © Jun Wang, MD, PhD   General features Decrease in red cell mass Hemoglobin: Levels of hemoglobin in a specific volume of whole blood Hematocrit: Fraction of whole blood composed of red blood cells Red cell count: Quantity of red cell in a specific volume of whole blood Three major groups based on RBC sizes Microcytic Normocytic Macrocytic Three major causes Blood loss: acute or chronic Increased red cell destruction: hemolysis Reduced production: marrow failure due to genetic abnormality or nutritional deficiency Etiology Genetic abnormality Hemoglobinopathies RBC cytoskeletal abomorlities Enzyme abnormalities Fanconi anemia Nutritional deficiencies: iron, VB12, folate, general malnutrition Physical etiologies: trauma, burns, frostbite, prosthetic valves, etc Chronic diseases: chronic infections, neoplasia, autoimmune disorders, kidney or liver diseases, etc Infectious diseases: hepatitis, sepsis , malaria, etc
Read more

Lymphoid neoplasms

Lymphocytic neoplasms Updated: 05/17/2020 © Jun Wang, MD, PhD Terminology Lymphoma : Proliferations forming discrete tissue masses Leukemia : Widespread involvement of the bone marrow and usually the peripheral blood Any "lymphoma" can present with or evolve to a leukemic picture, and any "leukemia" can occasionally present with a mass lesion Other hematology terms Important risk factors Immunodeficiency (primary or secondary) Autoimmune disorders Viruses (HIV, KSHV/HHV8, HTLV-1) H. pylori infection Radiation Chemotherapy Diagnostic approaches Complete history, especially those with possible epidemic characters, such as Burkitt lymphoma CBC, Bone marrow Morphology/immunohistochemistry Immunofluorescence flow cytometry Cytogenetic studies Molecular studies Commonly used markers All lymphomas: CD45 B-cell neoplasms: CD5, CD10, CD19, CD20, CD79a, CD23, bcl2, bcl6, cyclin D1, light chai
Read more