Skin basal cell carcinoma can be divided into 3 major types according to pathology

As a common type of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma can be divided into two categories according to the degree of differentiation of cancer cells: differentiated type and undifferentiated type. In addition, according to the microscopic pathological manifestations, the differentiated type can be further divided into four types: keratinizing type, cystic type, adenoid type and fibroepithelioma type.

Keratinic

In addition to undifferentiated cancer cells, parakeratinized cells and keratin cysts can also be seen in keratinized basal cell carcinoma. Keratin cysts represent the tendency to form hair shafts. Parakeratinized cells can be arranged in bundles or whorls or surround keratin cysts, which may be early hair keratinized cells.

Cyst type

Under the microscope, cystic basal cell carcinoma shows a cystic cavity in the center of the cancer cell cluster, which is generally formed by the necrosis of large areas of cancer cells; the cancer cells differentiate into sebaceous gland cells and then disintegrate, and some cancer cells around the cystic cavity appear as vacuoles or foam-like interstitial necrosis that extends into the tumor substance.

Adenoid

Adenoid basal cell carcinoma has a tubular or glandular structure under the microscope. Cancer cells are arranged in interlocking cords with lumens seen in island-like connective tissue tumors. The lumens are cubic and resemble glandular epithelial cells but have no secretory activity. Eccrine epithelioma is a type of adenoid basal cell carcinoma that differentiates in the ductal direction and is quite similar to syringoma, but the tumor is larger and invades deeper.

Fibroepithelioma

Under the microscope, fibroepithelioma-type basal cell carcinoma can be seen as cancer cells arranged in slender branched bundles that fit together and interweave into a network, with proliferating connective tissue matrix.