Basal cell carcinoma is which of the following?

Basal cell carcinoma is which of the following?

• A. Squamous cell carcinoma
• B. Basal carcinoma cell
• C. Malignant melanoma
• D. Melanoma

Answer: (B)

Basal cell carcinoma is a cancer that arises from the basal cells of the epidermis, the bottom layer of the skin’s outer surface. The best answer points to a basal carcinoma cell because it emphasizes the cell type from which the tumor originates. Basal cells sit in the stratum basale, and when they become malignant, they form basal cell carcinoma. In contrast, squamous cell carcinoma would come from keratinocytes in a more superficial layer of the epidermis, malignant melanoma from pigment-producing melanocytes, and melanoma refers to that melanocytic cancer. So identifying the tumor as arising from basal cells (a basal carcinoma cell) correctly reflects its cell lineage.

Basal cell carcinoma is a cancer that arises from the basal cells of the epidermis, the bottom layer of the skin’s outer surface. The best answer points to a basal carcinoma cell because it emphasizes the cell type from which the tumor originates. Basal cells sit in the stratum basale, and when they become malignant, they form basal cell carcinoma.

In contrast, squamous cell carcinoma would come from keratinocytes in a more superficial layer of the epidermis, malignant melanoma from pigment-producing melanocytes, and melanoma refers to that melanocytic cancer. So identifying the tumor as arising from basal cells (a basal carcinoma cell) correctly reflects its cell lineage.