DIAGNOSIS Diagnosis of BCC is accomplished by accurate interpretasion of the skin biopsy results. he preferred biopsy methods are sha!

e biopsy" #hich is often sufficient and punch biopsy. A sterili$ed ra$or blade" #hich can be precisely manipulated by the operator to ad%ust the depth of the biopsy specimen" is often superior to a No. &' scalpel for sha!e biopsies. A punch biopsy many be useful for flat lesions of morpheform BCC or for recurrent BCC occurring in a scar. (istopatologi (istopathologic features !ery some#hat #ith subtype" but most BCCs share some common histologic characteristics. he malignant basal cells ha!e large nuclei and relati!ely little cytoplasm. Although the nuclei are large" they may not appear atypical. )sually" mitotic figures are absent. *re+uently" retraction of stroma from tumor islands is present" creating peritumoral lacunae that are helpful in histopathologic diagnosis. Nodular basal cell carsinoma Nodular BCCs account for half of all BCCs and are characteri$ed by nodules of large basophilic cells and stromal retraction. nodules smaller than &' micro. he term micronoduler BCC is used to describe tumors #ith multiple microscopic