Library · Neoplasm
Basal cell carcinoma
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Basal cell carcinoma is a skin cancer, and of all skin cancers it is the one people get most often. It usually appears on skin that gets sun, and only very rarely on mucous membranes, which are moist surfaces such as the inside of the mouth, or on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
Behind it is ultraviolet radiation, an invisible part of sunlight. That radiation damages DNA, the instruction manual of every cell, sometimes by striking it directly and sometimes indirectly, and it also lowers the body's defenses. The DNA errors closely tied to this cancer occur in genes of the Hedgehog pathway, a signaling route inside the cell.
Under the microscope, it is recognized by its nests of basaloid cells, so called because they resemble the basal cells of the skin. At the edge of each nest, the nuclei line up like fence posts, and this is called palisading. It usually grows slowly, and it very rarely metastasizes, that is, spreads to other parts of the body.
In brief
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer in humans; it usually arises on sun-exposed skin and only rarely on mucous membranes, palms or soles.
Ultraviolet radiation promotes it by damaging DNA directly and indirectly and by suppressing immunity; its pathogenesis is closely tied to mutations in the Hedgehog pathway.
It forms nests of basaloid cells with peripheral nuclear palisading; it usually grows slowly and has very low metastatic potential.
At the edge of each nest, the nuclei line up like fence posts.
Sources (1)
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingBasal Cell Carcinoma, StatPearlsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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