Taking a Look at Basal Cell Carcinoma

Skin is the largest organ in the body. The integumentary system consists of the skin and its attachments (hair, nails, glands). The skin is composed of two layers of epidermis and dermis. The epidermis is the outermost layer to prevent dangerous environmental impacts and loss of moisture. This layer is composed of stratified cornified epithelium. The skin may be thick or thin depending on places. In the palm and sole, the skin is very thick and the diameter ranges from 0.8 mm to 4 mm.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer and there are three main types of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, both of which are named after the diseased cell types. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common and affects more than 4 million people each year in the United States alone - it can impair the appearance, but rarely threatens life. Squamous cell carcinoma affects more than 1 million people each year, and in the United States about 9000 people die each year. Melanoma is very rare but it is also fatal

Nonspecific features of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) lead to long-term differential diagnosis including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, corneal adenoma, no melanoma, epidermal cyst, lymphoma, and skin metastasis. As a result, Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) rarely is diagnosed before biopsy. Merkel cells are found on the skin of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. It is an oval or circular cell in the basal layer of the epidermis parallel to the surface. The cytoplasm of the cell is small, and the circular or elliptical nucleus has fine and uniformly dispersed chromatin. Cells accumulate in the sensory area such as the fingertip, nose tip, tactile follicle.

Merkel cell carcinoma is different from other types of skin cancer due to the type of cell involved. Merkel cell carcinoma occurs from Merkel cells. In contrast, basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer occurs in the basal cells of the skin. Melanoma occurs from skin cells called melanocytes

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common and easiest to treat skin cancer. Because the spread of basal cell carcinoma is slow, it mainly occurs in adults. Basal cell tumors can take a variety of forms, including pearly-like elevations or wax-like bumps with visible vessels on the ear, neck or face. Tumors may also cause flat, scaly, fleshy or brown spots on the back or chest, or rarely white waxy scars. For rare types of skin cancers, Kaposi's sarcoma, sebaceous adenocarcinoma, invasive carcinoma, skin-derived glands, and Merkel cell carcinoma, which are usually found in people whose immune system's function is declining There is in the head and neck). The exposed parts of the sun, arms and legs are found, but they often spread to other parts of the body