This article is aimed to provide you information on basal cell carcinoma and differentiated carcinomas and by what means these two medical terms are related. Basal cell carcinomas are the most common forms of cancer which are rarely life threatening. Although basal skin cell carcinoma almost never metastasizes they are still malignant tumors that may destroy or disfigure one’s tissues. This type of cancer is more likely to develop on the neck and head and more recently proven, on the trunk. This type of skin cancer carries a risk of recurrence therefore individuals who have been once diagnosed with this type of carcinoma should closely monitor their health in order to make sure the disease does not reappear.
Basal cell carcinoma may look similar to non cancerous skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema. Here are some of the most common warning signs that one should be aware of especially if one is at risk. Persistent and non healing sores, reddish patches, shiny bumps or pink growths and scar-like areas may all be signs of early skin cancer. Anyone who is exposed to the sun may develop basal cell cancer.
The poorly differentiated carcinoma is a histology used to describe metastatic cancers of unknown primary site. Patients that suffer from this type of cancer develop symptoms at the metastatic site and not at the primary site so the routine procedures of identifying where carcinoma begun fail in detecting the primary site.
The normal pathway to detect the primary site of cancer consists in a routine history, physical examination, laboratory tests or imaging tests. When these fail to detect the place where cancer started, a light-microscopic diagnosis is performed.
Diagnosing basal cell cancer is usually done on the basis of a skin biopsy. The most common way to perform a skin biopsy is done under local anesthesia and it is called shave biopsy. However, a skin biopsy is required after a physical examination by a doctor. The biopsy has the purpose to confirm a suspicion. A skin biopsy consists in removing a sample of tissue which is examined under the microscope.
Basal cell carcinoma treatment is given depending on the type, size and location of the tumor and on the general health of the patient. Luckily, there are various treatments available for this type of skin cancer, which are more effective in early stages. Commonly, skin cancer is eradicated with surgery. Different types of procedures may be performed and they are the following excisional surgery, curettage and electrodessication, cryosurgery, and laser surgery. Radiation is used in patients with larger tumors that cannot be removed during surgery or in older patients with a poor health condition who could not undergo surgery. Photodynamic therapy may also be an option for patients with multiple basal cell cancers but this is not a FDA approved type of treatment. Topical medication may be used in superficial skin carcinomas.
Patients who suffer from basal cell carcinoma and differentiated carcinomas have a very good prognosis as this cancer rarely causes death but the outcomes of the treatment are even better in early cancer stages.