Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer and the most common malignancy overall with over 2 million cases diagnosed each year. It is a malignant type of skin tumor in which the cancer cells resemble basal epidermal cells. The most common locations for developing basal cell carcinomas are the head and neck areas, but they can occur on any part of the body. It is very rare that BCC metastasizes, but they are locally invasive and can cause damage to the skin, surrounding tissue, and underlying bone if they are not treated. Injury to the nerves and underlying muscles can also result. The epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and various treatment modalities of basal cell carcinoma will be discussed, …show more content…
Fair-skinned patients account for 99% of BCCs. Caucasians living in the US have about a 30% risk of developing BCC in their lifetime. The risk of developing BCC increases with age, however, the number of cases in Americans younger than forty has been increasing, especially in females. This is especially interesting because overall the incidence of BCC is 30% greater in males than females. The exact etiology of BBC is unknown. There is known involvement with the pilosebaceous gland. It is thought that BCC originates from the epidermal or progenitor cells of the follicle. The patched/hedgehog intracellular signaling pathway plays a significant role. This pathway is involved in the regulation of cellular growth. In BCC, the inhibition of this pathway is lost. A mutation in the PTCH1 gene is responsible for the malfunction of this pathway. This results in hyperplasia of the epidermis with uncontrolled propagation of the basal cells. Also, exposure to UV radiation causes mutations in the tumor suppressor gene TP53. These mutations lead to the dysregulation of keratinocyte repair mechanisms and causes cells with damaged DNA to resist apoptosis and continue …show more content…
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The most common symptom of a BCC is skin lesion that does not seem to be healing properly, or may heal and recur, and that is easily friable, meaning that it bleeds easily. Patients often have a history of chronic sun exposure, which could be recreational or occupational. The majority, about 85%, of BCCs occurs on the head and neck area. The remaining 15% occur on the trunk, mostly in sun exposed areas. The clinical presentations of basal cell carcinomas are separated into groups by their histological differences. The subtypes include nodular, infiltrative, micronodular, superficial, and
Arch Dermatol. 2007;143(1):124–125. Puchenkova, S. G. (1996). "
... Thus, the loss of BRCA1 can result in defective DNA damage repair, abnormal centrosome duplication, cell-cycle arrest, growth retardation, increased apoptosis, genetic instability and tumorigenesis2. The study of BRCA1 mutation in mice may be used for new therapeutic approaches, although the cause of the mutation in BRCA gene is unclear.
Whiteman, D. C., P. Watt, D. M. Purdie, et al. "Melanocytic Nevi, Solar Keratoses, and Divergent Pathways to Cutaneous Melanoma." Journal of the National Cancer Institute 95 (June 4, 2003): 806–812.
What is skin cancer ? first, Skin is the largest organ of the body . it gives our body protection from harms, injuries and infections. It also organize the body temperature and dispose of waste substances through the glands . out layer of the skin is called the epidermis and the layer underneath is known as the dermis . Skin cancer is type of disease where malignant cancer cells are to be found the outer layer of a person's skin and is the uncontrolled development of the irregular skin cells .It occurs when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or genetic defects, that lead the skin cells to duplicate rapidly and form malignant tumors. there are three main types of skin cancer which are basal
Malignant Melanoma is a type of malignant cancer that affects the melanocytes. A melanocyte produces the pigmentation in our skin and melanin gives us the color to our skin. These cells occur in the skin and can be found in other parts of the body. It is important to realize that melanoma can begin in any part of the body that can contain a melanocyte. Melanoma is considered less common than other skin cancers. It is a cancer that can be very dangerous if not detected early. Although in most cases it is diagnosed in time and can be cured. Many people are diagnosed with this cancer and it is said that 160,000 cases are diagnosed a year. ( ). In men a common site is on their back and for a woman is on their legs.
There are several causes that contributes to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which mainly are prolonged sunlight exposure, presence of trauma, exposure to carcinogen, and being affected by papillomavirus.[...
Basal Cell Carcinoma often abbreviated as (BCC) is the most frequently appearing form of skin cancer. They are also referred to as Basal Cell Cancer. It was discovered along the way as skin cancer was being treated as different types with no specific period. The BCCs’ are uncontrolled growths that normally arise in the skin’s basal cells. These cells lie in the deepest layer of the epidermis which is the outermost layer of the skin. BCC’s are normally caused by a combination of two things; one is cumulative UV exposure and the other is intense occasional UV exposure. The most vulnerable, according to a research done, tend to be people with fair hair, blue eyes and fair skin and this is because they tend to burn easily. The BCCs’ may first appear as a small white flesh or a colored bump that may bleed. Other normal appearances may look like open sores, red patches on the skin, pink growths, shiny bumps or scars. 80% of Basal Cell Carcinoma cases are mainly found in the head and neck that is the body parts that are mainly exposed to the sun. The nose also tends to be most vulnerable and according to a recent study done, 40% of BCC that were diagnosed on the head and neck were adjacent to the nose.
Skin cancer has been overlooked for the past few decades because the medical community has been focusing more on internal cancers. But with in exponential rise in recorded cases of skin cancer, it is grabbing attention now. Skin cancer is a serious problem and society is brushing it off so people might sport a nice tan. Even though skin cancer is not the type cancer that people see everyday or have family members develop it as often as say, breast cancer or prostate cancer, that does not make it any less of an important item to keep a look out for.
Epidermolysis Bullosa also known as E.B. is generally an inherited connective tissue disease. This disease is evident at birth or soon there after. It causes large fluid filled blisters, in the skin and mucosal membranes. Chaffing or even increase in room temperature may cause these blisters to form. E.B. affects an estimated 50 in 1 million live births. The disease has been known to affect every racial and ethnic group and is found in both males and females all over the world. The disease has been seen in a wide variety of forms from mild to lethal form involving some organs. Epidermolysis Bullosa is the result of a mutation in the keratin or collagen gene. There are three layers of skin epidermis, dermis and the subcutaneous layers. Epidermolysis Bullosa affects the top two layers. For those who are not affected by E.B. there are protein anchors that prevent the top two layers from moving without unison or shearing. But those who are affected by E.B. lack the protein anchors that are made of collagen. This is what creates the friction between the layers and this rubbing and pressure causes the painful blisters and sores which have been compared to third degree burns. There are four main types of Epidermolysis Bullosa: Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa, Epidermolysis Bullosa simplex, Hemindesmosomal Epidermolysis Bullosa and Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa. Even within the main types there are many sub types including Epidermis Bullosa Acquisita generally appearing in adults over the age of 50. This specific type is also linked to Cohen’s disease and Lupus.
“Basal cell carcinoma is an uncontrolled, abnormal growths or lesions that arise in the skins basal cells, which line the deepest layer of the epidermis.” (Phillip, 2011) Basal cell carcinoma often times resembles open sores, red patches, shiny bumps or scars. Majority of basal cell carcinoma cases occur on parts of the body such as the face, ears, neck, scalp, shoulders and back that are excessively exposed to the sun.
In 2014, approximately 76,000 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. Melanoma is the most common and most dangerous skin cancer there is. Anyone can get melanoma when not protecting their skin. Throughout this paper there will be discussed the causes, treatments, protection and prevention, and also the effects melanoma has on the human body. Melanoma skin cancer is a cancer that Americans should be more aware of and should take greater precautions when exposing their skin to the sun.
Basal and squamous cell skin cancer are the most common forms of skin cancer. Multiple studies have shown that these cancers are almost always connected to large amounts of sun exposure. This can come from things like outdoor sports, performing something outdoors with little coverage from clothing, and getting multiple severe sunburns. You can see signs of skin cancer inside and outside of your body. Rough, thick, dry skin patches are common symptoms, but things
Clinical Description: Vitiligo is caused by the loss of cells (called melanocytes) that makes skin pigments. This result in milky white patches that is irregularly shaped, premature white or gray hair on the infected person’s scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard. Also, loss of color or white patches can be seen in the mucous membranes and retina of an infected individual. The affected exposed affected skin parts are prone to sunburn. Vitiligo occurs in three different patterns which are: foci (depigmentation on a few areas of the body), segmental (depigmentation on one side of the body) and generalized pattern (depigmentation on many parts of the body). Vitiligo is considered generally to be an autoimmune disorder. Most people with vitiligo
Skin cancer is a disease where cancer (malignant) cells are found on the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). The three types of cells found in the epidermis are squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes. These cells in time grow to be cancerous. Thus, the three types of skin cancers are squamous cell, basal cell, and melanoma. Melanoma is the most deadliest and destructive type of cancer. (“Skin Cancer” infotrac.com) The number of people with melanoma has risen in Scotland from 3.5 in 1979 to 10.6 per 100,000 in 1998 for men and 7.0 to 13.1 for women. (Miller 945) Squamous cell and Basal cell skin cancer can kill up to 2,200 people a year in the United States. (Sommerfield SIRS.com) Basal cell, being the most common type of skin cancer, is the cancer that about 75 percent of the people have. (“Skin Cancer “ infotrac.com) Melanoma is mostly seen in older men but ever since tanning came in during the 1970’s, it has increased in women 60 percent around the ages 15-29 over the past three decades.(Sommerfield SIRS.com) “And basal cell and squamous cell cancers are increasing at a rate of about 5 percent per year”(Sommerfield SIRS.com).
Several types of cancer grow in the tongue but squamous cell carcinoma is the most common. Squamous cells are thin, flat cells that line the mouth and other organs.