Article Sections

Introduction

Skin cancer is an extremely prevalent malignancy, with millions of cases diagnosed annually.  This article explores the 2 most common skin cancer types: basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).  These malignancies do not commonly metastasize but can cause significant local morbidity.  Melanoma, the third most common skin cancer type, is described in detail in a separate article.

Pathophysiology

Nonmelanoma skin cancer (BCC and SCC) is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal keratinocytes, the predominant cell type in the epidermis ( Figure 1).  Keratinocytes arise from epidermal stem cells in the stratum basale ( Figure 2), the most mitotically active layer in the epidermis.  As they rise through the epidermis, the cells become more mature, flattening and producing increasing amounts of keratin before being shed at the surface.  Pathogenesis can be categorized as follows:

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