Which term refers to a malignant tumor of the basal cell layer of the epidermis?

Which term refers to a malignant tumor of the basal cell layer of the epidermis?

• A. Skin Cancer
• B. Basal Cell Carcinoma
• C. Melanoma
• D. Dermatitis

Answer: (B)

This question asks you to name the cancer that starts in the basal cell layer of the epidermis. Basal cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor arising from those deepest epidermal cells. It’s the most common skin cancer and is strongly linked to sun exposure. It tends to grow slowly and usually stays local, but it can invade nearby tissues if not treated. Clinically it often looks like a pearly or waxy bump, sometimes with small blood vessels on the surface. The other options describe different conditions: skin cancer is a broad term for cancers of the skin, melanoma is cancer of pigment-producing melanocytes, and dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition, not cancer.

This question asks you to name the cancer that starts in the basal cell layer of the epidermis. Basal cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor arising from those deepest epidermal cells. It’s the most common skin cancer and is strongly linked to sun exposure. It tends to grow slowly and usually stays local, but it can invade nearby tissues if not treated. Clinically it often looks like a pearly or waxy bump, sometimes with small blood vessels on the surface. The other options describe different conditions: skin cancer is a broad term for cancers of the skin, melanoma is cancer of pigment-producing melanocytes, and dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition, not cancer.