Basal cell carcinoma (original) (raw)

Skin nonmelanocytic tumor

Carcinoma (nonadnexal)

Basal cell carcinoma

Editorial Board Member: Robert E. LeBlanc, M.D.

Editor-in-Chief: Debra L. Zynger, M.D.

Last author update: 3 May 2021

Last staff update: 13 October 2023

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PubMed Search: Basal cell carcinoma[TI] skin[TIAB] pathology review[PT] full text[SB]

Cite this page: Kalmykova A, McKee PH. Basal cell carcinoma. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/skintumornonmelanocyticbcc.html. Accessed January 1st, 2025.

Definition / general

• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) arises from the interfollicular or follicular epithelium
• Most common malignant tumor type in humans
• Local aggressive course
• Low disease associated death rate; metastases to lung and bone exceptionally rare
• When multiple, associated with a number of genetic conditions, including basal cell nevus (Gorlin), Bazex-Dupré-Christol, Rombo syndromes and xeroderma pigmentosum

Essential features

• Nests of basaloid cells with peripheral palisading associated with a fibromyxoid stroma

Terminology

• Basal cell epithelioma
• Rodent ulcer
• Basalioma
• Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus

ICD coding

• ICD-O:
  • 8090/3 - Basal cell carcinoma, NOS
  • 8097/3 - Nodular basal cell carcinoma
  • 8091/3 - Superficial basal cell carcinoma
  • 8097/3 - Micronodular basal cell carcinoma
  • 8092/3 - Infiltrating basal cell carcinoma
  • 8092/3 - Morpheaform basal cell carcinoma
  • 8094/3 - Basosquamous carcinoma
  • 8090/3 - Pigmented basal cell carcinoma
  • 8092/3 - Basal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid differentiation (metaplastic BCC)
  • 8090/3 - Basal cell carcinoma with adnexal differentiation
  • 8093/3 - Fibroepithelial basal cell carcinoma
  • N/A - Basomelanocytic tumor

Epidemiology

• Most common cancer type in fair skinned people (Br J Dermatol 2017;177:359)
• Highest rate is observed in Australia (1,000/100,000 person years) (Br J Dermatol 2012;166:1069)
• More frequent:
  • Middle aged adults with increasing incidence with age
  • People with I - II Fitzpatrick skin phototype (Cancer Epidemiol 2013;37:534)
  • Male (M:F = 1.5:1)
• Number of cases is increasing every year worldwide, especially among young age group, with a predilection for women (Br J Dermatol 2012;166:1069, Pediatrics 2014;134:e4)
• Tumors that occur in younger age group tend to behave in an aggressive fashion (Br J Plast Surg 2000;53:393)

Sites

• Sun exposed skin (G Ital Dermatol Venereol 2014;149:423)
• 64% on the head region (most often nodular variant)
• 24% on the trunk (most often superficial variant)
• Rare areas such as anogenital region, nail unit, palm and sole (J Cutan Pathol 2018 Jun 19 [Epub ahead of print])

Pathophysiology

• UV radiation induced carcinogenesis
• Mutations in TP53 gene
• PTCH1 gene mutations
• Activating mutations in SMO gene
• Other genes including mutations in the CDKN2A gene and RAS genes
• Reference: Calonje: McKee's Pathology of the Skin, 5th Edition, 2019

Clinical features

• Nodular variant usually presents as a pearly pink or flesh colored papule or nodule with arborizing and branching vessels (Br J Dermatol 2002;147:41)
• In the past, ulceration of a nodular BCC gave rise to the term rodent ulcer
• Tumor with ulceration has characteristic rolled borders
• Superficial variant presents with scaly macules, patches or plaques with an erythematous surface
• Pigmented variant resembles a nodular or superficial BCC but has a pigmented surface and can be clinically mistaken for a melanoma
• Neglected tumors may result in massive skin, soft tissue and bone destruction with severe disfiguration

Diagnosis

• Clinical features
• Dermatoscopy
• Histological features

Prognostic factors

• Histological type associated with risk of local recurrence
  • Lower risk: nodular, superficial, pigmented, infundibulocystic, fibroepithelial
  • Higher risk: basosquamous, sclerosing / morpheaform, keloidal, infiltrating, BCC with sarcomatoid differentiation and micronodular variants
• Circumscription of tumor margins
• Presence of perineural and lymphovascular invasion
• Status of surgical margins
• Tumor size
• Localization (part of skin affected, e.g. head and neck, trunk, etc.)
• History of nonmelanoma skin cancer
• Radiation therapy
• PUVA therapy
• Immunosuppression
• Reference: NCCN: Basal Cell Skin Cancer Evidence Blocks [Accessed 15 December 2020]

Case reports

• 55 year old Caucasian man with BCC on the left forearm presenting with ulcerative axillary lymph node and pulmonary metastases (Case Rep Oncol Med 2018;2018:3485326)
• 65 year old man with clear cell BCC on upper chest (Patholog Res Int 2011;2011:386921)
• 65 year old man with neglected BCC on posterior neck presenting with diffuse skeletal metastases (JAAD Case Rep 2018;4:678)
• 76 year old Caucasian man with basosquamous carcinoma with lymphovascular invasion on left lateral shoulder (Cureus 2018;10:e3401)
• 79 year old woman with massive basosquamous carcinoma of back (Oxf Med Case Reports 2017;2017:omw095)
• 90 year old woman with infiltrative BCC on left shin that was clinically diagnosed as tinea corporis (Dermatol Online J 2018;24:13030)

Treatment

• Surgery
• Mohs micrographic surgery
• Curettage and electrodesiccation for tumors with lower risk of local recurrence
• Radiation therapy
• Topical treatment (5-fluorouracil, imiquimod)
• Photodynamic therapy with aminolevulinic acid or porfimer sodium
• Nicotinamide (can be used for prophylactic treatment)
• Systemic therapy (sonidegib and vismodegib are hedgehog pathway inhibitors [HhIs])
• Reference: NCCN: Basal Cell Skin Cancer Evidence Blocks [Accessed 15 December 2020]

Clinical images

Contributed by Sergiy Vasylenko, M.D., Bohdan Lytvynenko, M.D. and Arghya Banerjee, M.D.

Nodular BCC

Ulcerative BCC

Pigmented, ulcerated BCC

Superficial BCC

Pigmented BCC

Infiltrative BCC

Gross description

• Variable, mirroring the clinical variants described above

Frozen section description

• Mohs micrographic surgery technique is one of the most often used options for assessment of margins of surgery specimens (Dermatol Surg 2019;45:S57)
• Mohs surgery shows excellent 5 year cure rates: primary 99%, recurrent 94.4% (J Dermatol Surg Oncol 1989;15:315)

Microscopic (histologic) description

Common variants (Calonje: McKee's Pathology of the Skin, 5th Edition, 2019)

• Nodular and nodulocystic BCC
  • Relatively circumscribed mass
  • Epidermal or follicular attachment variably present
  • Large basaloid lobules with peripheral nuclear palisade
  • Lobules may be solid or show central cyst formation due to excessive mucin production
  • Fibromyxoid stroma
  • Cleft formation between tumor lobules and stroma
  • Pleomorphism is generally mild
  • Variable mitotic activity and apoptosis
  • Sometimes necrosis en masse
• Adenoid BCC
  • Reticulate pseudoglandular pattern of basaloid cells
  • Mucinous stroma
  • Can mimic true gland formation, resulting in diagnostic confusion with a sweat gland adenocarcinoma, e.g. adenoid cystic carcinoma
• Micronodular BCC
  • Small basaloid nests
  • Peripheral palisading less prominent
  • Retraction artifact usually absent
  • Can diffusely infiltrate the dermis and extend into the subcutis
• Infiltrative BCC
  • Small irregular clumps of basaloid cells
  • Limited peripheral palisading
  • Stroma loose and mucin may be prominent
  • Extensive spread
  • Perineural invasion can be seen
• Morpheaform (sclerosing, morphoeic) BCC
  • Thin strands and nests of basaloid cells
  • Limited peripheral palisading
  • Stroma is dense and sclerotic
  • Extensive spread
  • Perineural invasion can be seen
• Keratotic BCC
  • Horn cyst formation
• Basosquamous (metatypical) BCC
  • Biphasic tumor
  • Foci of neoplastic squamous differentiation
• Pigmented BCC
  • Nodular and superficial variants can be pigmented
  • Colonization of tumor's complexes with melanocytes
  • Stromal melanophages
• Superficial BCC
  • Isolated basaloid lobules projecting from the lower margin of the epidermis
• Ulcerative BCC
  • Ulceration
  • Highly infiltrative growth pattern
  • Less commonly nodulocystic variant with ulceration
• BCC, fibroepitheliomatous type (fibroepithelioma of Pinkus)
  • Anastomosing strands and cords of basaloid cells connected to the epidermis
  • Peripheral nuclear palisading with a formation of follicular germ-like structures
  • Rarely, isthmic differentiation is present
  • Fibrotic stroma that can differentiate towards follicular papillae in the areas of germ-like structure formation

Rare variants

• Pleomorphic (giant cell, BCC with monster cells) BCC
  • Mitotic activity
  • Apoptosis
  • Сellular pleomorphism and giant cell formation
  • Atypia has no prognostic significance
• Clear cell BCC
  • Focal or total clear cell change with clear to finely granular eosinophilic cytoplasm due to lysosomal degeneration
  • Peripheral palisading is usually preserved
• Signet ring cell BCC
  • Tumor cells with laterally displaced nuclei
  • May show positivity for S100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein and smooth muscle actin, suggesting myoepithelial differentiation
  • Referred to as BCC with myoepithelial differentiation
• Granular BCC
  • Tumor cells with abundant granular eosinophilic cytoplasm
• BCC with differentiation towards adnexal structures
  • Tumor complexes can show differentiation towards sebaceous, follicular, eccrine or apocrine structures
• Infundibulocystic BCC
  • Synonym: BCC with follicular differentiation
  • Superficial dermal proliferation of basaloid cells arranged in anastomosing cords and strands
  • Peripheral palisading is present
  • Stroma is typically scanty
  • Infundibular cysts are present
• Metaplastic BCC
  • Stromal malignant metaplastic features (carcinosarcoma)
  • Chondroid, osteoid and smooth muscle differentiation may be seen
• BCC with matricial differentiation (shadow cell BCC)
  • Tumor cells show differentiation towards matricial cells of the hair follicle displaying shadow cells and trichohyaline granules
• Keloidal BCC
  • Stroma shows thick, sclerotic collagen bundles
• BCC with thickened basement membrane
  • Tumor complexes surround by thickened basement membrane
• Basomelanocytic tumor
  • Combined and intermixed basal cell and melanomatous elements
• BCC with neuroid type nuclear palisading
  • Central nuclear palisading reminiscent of that seen in schwannoma

Microscopic (histologic) images

Contributed by Antonina Kalmykova, M.D., Phillip H. McKee, M.D., Sate Hamza, M.D., Eduardo Calonje, M.D.,
Wayne Grayson, M.B.Ch.B., Ph.D., James Sampson, M.B.B.S., M.Sc. and Assia Bassarova, M.D., Ph.D.

Nodular BCC

Nodular BCC

Nodulocystic BCC

Pigmented BCC

Ulcerative BCC

Superficial BCC

Adenoid BCC

Infiltrative BCC

Morpheaform BCC

Keloidal BCC

Micronodular BCC

Keratotic BCC

Granular cell BCC

BCC with matricial differentiation

Clear cell BCC

Basosquamous carcinoma

BCC with thickened basement membrane

Basomelanocytic tumor

Basomelanocytic tumor: AE1 / AE3

Basomelanocytic tumor: melanA

Metaplastic BCC

Metaplastic BCC

Metaplastic BCC: BerEP4

Metaplastic BCC: SMA

Fibroepithelial BCC (Pinkus tumor)

Rippled pattern BCC

Rippled pattern BCC: p63

Rippled pattern BCC: CK8/18

Rippled pattern BCC: BerEP4

Cytology description

• Sensitivity and specificity of exfoliative cytology estimate 97.5% (95% CI 94.5% to 98.9%) and 90.1% (95% CI 81.1% to 95.1%) respectively and can result in wrong or false positive result (Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018;12:CD013187)
• Complexes of tightly packed basaloid cells with palisading in the periphery
• High nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, minimal atypia and mitotic activity

Positive stains

• CK AE1 / AE3 (100%), BerEP4 (80 - 100%), p63 (100%), CAM 5.2 (20 - 95%), androgen receptor (33 - 66%), p53 (74.5 - 83%), 34 beta E12 (high molecular weight CK), BCL2 (diffuse pattern), CD10 (positive in tumor cells, negative in stroma) (Dermatopathology (Basel) 2015;2:15, Arch Pathol Lab Med 2017;141:1490, Rom J Morphol Embryol 2018;59:1115, Am J Pathol 1992;141:25)

Negative stains

• CK20, adipophilin, SOX10, S100, MelanA / MART1, HMB45, CD34, CD44 (Dermatopathology (Basel) 2015;2:15)
• Usually negative: CK7 (0 - 70%), CEA (0 - 20%), EMA (0 - 6%) (Dermatopathology (Basel) 2015;2:15, Arch Pathol Lab Med 2017;141:1490, Rom J Morphol Embryol 2018;59:1115, Am J Pathol 1992;141:25)

Molecular / cytogenetics description

• Chromosomal gains at 6p (47%), 6q (20%), 9p (20%), 7 (13%) and X (13%)
• Regional loss on 9q in 33% of tested tumors encompassing 9q22.3 to which the Patched gene has been mapped (J Invest Dermatol 2001;117:683)

Videos

BCC discussed by Dr. Jerad Gardner

Malignant keratinocytic neoplasms discussed by Dr. Clay J. Cockerell

Sample pathology report

• Face, excision:
  • Nodular basal cell carcinoma (LVI0 Pn0 R0) (ICD-O code 8097/3) (see synoptic report)
  • Synoptic report:
    * Tumor site: face
    * Procedure: excision
    * Histological type: nodular basal cell carcinoma
    * Depth of invasion: 2.5 mm
    * Tumor size (greatest dimension): 7 mm
    * Anatomic level (Clark level): IV
    * Lymphovascular invasion (LVI): 0
    * Perineural invasion (Pn): 0
    * Peripheral margins: uninvolved
    * Deep margin: uninvolved
• Reference: NCCN: Basal Cell Skin Cancer Evidence Blocks [Accessed 15 December 2020]

Differential diagnosis

• Follicular induction (also known as follicular basal cell hyperplasia, epidermal basaloid cell hyperplasia and basaloid epidermal proliferation) versus superficial BCC:
  • Usually seen above dermatofibroma, less common above nevi
  • Follicular differentiation (germinative buds and papillary mesenchymal bodies) shows clear cell hyperplasia, epidermal hyperplasia between sites of follicular induction
  • No atypical nuclei, increased mitotic figures or apoptotic bodies
  • CK20+ colonizing Merkel cells
• Trichoepithelioma / trichoblastoma versus nodular BCC:
  • Delicate perifollicular-like stroma with small spindled cells
  • Papillary mesenchymal bodies
  • No prominent cleft retraction, myxoinflammatory stroma, significant mitotic activity (is sometimes marked in trichoblastoma and should not be misconstrued as implying malignant trichoblastoma), cytologic atypia or tumor necrosis
• Desmoplastic trichoepithelioma versus morpheaform BCC:
  • Does not extend into the deep dermis
  • Architectural symmetry, horn cysts with calcification, granulomatous inflammation and follicular / sebaceous / infundibular differentiation
  • No mitotic figures, ductal differentiation, cytologic atypia, tumor to stroma clefting or perineural infiltration
  • CK20+ colonizing Merkel cells, androgen receptor-
  • PHLDA1+ (highly specific for trichoepithelioma / trichoblastoma, although expression in micronodular BCC has been reported)
  • Note: no single IHC marker can differentiate trichoepithelioma and BCC
• Basaloid follicular hamartoma versus infundibulocystic BCC:
  • Cystic structures (uncommon in BCC, except infundibulocystic type)
  • No tumor necrosis, mitotic activity, cytologic atypia, myxoinflammatory stroma or peripheral clefting
  • CD34+ (outlines tumor islands)
  • CK20+ (Merkel cells): utility is uncertain for distinction from infundibulocystic BCC
• Tumor of follicular infundibulum versus superficial BCC:
  • Cytoplasmic pallor (due to glycogen) and conspicuous basement membrane
  • No cytologic atypia, mitotic activity, no myxoid inflammatory stroma or stroma to tumor clefting
  • Colonizing CK20+ Merkel cells, BerEP4-
  • Elastin may demonstrate an elastin fiber network at the base of the lesion
• Syringoma versus morpheaform BCC:
  • Well circumscribed, superficial
  • Ductal differentiation (reminiscent of tadpoles)
  • No tumor necrosis, mitotic activity, cytologic atypia, myxoinflammatory stroma, peripheral clefting or perineural invasion
  • CD200+, claudin 4+, EMA+, CEA+ (highlight lumina)
• Squamous cell carcinoma (basaloid, clear cell, sarcomatoid):
  • Shows an intraepidermal component, pagetoid spread
  • No peripheral palisading, clefting or myxoinflammatory stroma
  • Areas with conventional features like keratinization, keratin pearls
  • BerEP4- (also absent in squamous areas of basosquamous carcinoma)
  • EMA+ (may be expressed in squamous areas of BCC), CD44+
• Microcystic adnexal carcinoma versus morpheaform BCC:
  • Superficial keratocysts (infundibular or isthmic), ductal differentiation with eosinophilic luminal secretions
  • Frequently invades nerves (can't discriminate)
  • No peripheral palisading, mitotic activity, tumor to stroma retraction or myxoinflammatory stroma
  • CEA+, EMA+ in ductal structures
  • CK15+, BerEP4 variable (mixed reports)
  • p63 highlights ductal myoepithelial cells
• Sebaceous carcinoma versus BCC (nodular, clear cell):
  • Intraepidermal pagetoid spread
  • No peripheral clefting
  • May have evidence of sebaceous, lobular architecture
  • Often relatively greater cytologic atypia and less basaloid morphology
  • Diffuse androgen receptor+ (versus focally positive in BCC)
  • Low molecular weight CK+, EMA+
  • BerEP4-, adipophilin+, perilipin+
• Merkel cell carcinoma:
  • Rarely may show intraepidermal with pagetoid spread
  • No / focal peripheral palisading
  • Homogenous salt and pepper chromatin
  • Nuclear molding
  • Abundant mitotic activity and necrosis
  • MCPyV 70 - 80% (highly specific marker)
  • CK20+ (paranuclear, dot-like pattern)
  • Neuroendocrine markers expressed but rarely also positive in BCC
• Adenoid cystic carcinoma versus adenoid BCC:
  • Well defined cribriform patterns
  • No peripheral palisading, continuity with the epidermis or adjacent hair follicle or retraction artifacts between the tumor islands and stroma
  • Typically shows hyaline material lining the lumina of the ducts and sometimes also present in the stroma
  • CD117+ (20% of BCC CD117+), CD43+ (40%), CK7+, CEA+, EMA+ (in ductal structures)
  • p63+, SMA+, calponin+ (myoepithelial cell population at periphery of tumor islands)
• Clear cell melanoma (balloon cell melanoma) versus clear cell BCC:
  • Intraepidermal pagetoid spread, variable melanin pigment
  • No peripheral palisading, stroma to tumor clefting or myxoinflammatory stroma
  • SOX10+, S100+, HMB45+, MelanA+, tyrosinase+, BerEP4-
• Clear cell eccrine porocarcinoma versus clear cell BCC:
  • No myxoinflammatory stroma (sometimes may be present), peripheral clefting or conventional poroma-like areas
  • CEA+, EMA+, BerEP4-
• Clear cell hidradenocarcinoma versus clear cell BCC:
  • No peripheral palisading, clefting or myxoinflammatory stroma
  • CEA+, S100+, BerEP4-
• Trichilemmal carcinoma versus clear cell BCC:
  • No conventional areas of BCC
  • Contains abundant glycogen (PAS+), CEA-, EMA-
• Pilomatrix carcinoma versus BCC with matricial differentiation:
  • No conventional areas of BCC
• Pigmented reticulated seborrheic keratosis versus BCC with follicular differentiation:
  • No peripheral palisading, myxoinflammatory stroma, peripheral clefting, atypical nuclei, increased mitotic figures or apoptotic bodies
  • CK20+ colonizing Merkel cells may be present
• Cylindroma versus BCC with thick basement membrane:
  • No conventional areas of BCC
  • CEA+, S100+

Board review style question #1

This image comes from a tumor on the face of an elderly patient. What is the most likely diagnosis?

1. Sclerosing sweat ductal carcinoma
2. Microcystic adnexal carcinoma
3. Basal cell carcinoma with ductal differentiation
4. Secretory carcinoma
5. Metastatic adenocarcinoma

Board review style question #2

This image comes from the head of an elderly patient. What is the most likely diagnosis?

1. Sebaceoma
2. Sebaceous carcinoma
3. Sebaceous adenoma
4. Basal cell carcinoma with sebaceous differentiation
5. Porocarcinoma

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