BCC

BCC

Abbreviation for:
basal cell carcinoma (Medspeak-UK)
bedside communication controller
benign cellular changes
biliary cholesterol concentration
Birmingham City Council (Medspeak-UK)
birth control clinic
breast care centre (Medspeak-UK)

BCC

1. Basal cell carcinoma.

2. Benign cellular changes, see there.

carcinoma

(kar?sin-o'ma ) [ carcin- + -oma]

A malignant tumor that occurs in epithelial tissue and may infiltrate local tissues or produce metastases. It may affect almost any organ or part of the body and spread by direct extension, through lymphatics, or through the bloodstream. The causes vary with tumor type.

Patient care

Optimal patient care includes: identifying and explaining to patient and family the type of cancer and its typical natural history; options for treatment, side effects of treatments, expected response of the cancer to the treatment, best predictions for recovery and life expectancy, availability of clinical trials, alternative and complementary therapies, and the potential benefit of referral to specialty cancer centers.

acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas

A rare carcinoma that arises from pancreatic cells that manufacture digestive proteins, such as lipase, chymotrypsin, or alpha-1-antitrypsin.

alveolar cell carcinoma

A type of lung carcinoma.

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

basal cell carcinoma

Abbreviation: BCC

The most common human cancer, typically found on skin exposed to sun or other forms of ultraviolet light. Although it is sometimes locally invasive, it rarely metastasizes to other organs. Typically it begins as a small, shiny papule. The lesion enlarges to form a whitish border around a central depression or ulcer that may bleed. When the lesion reaches this stage, it is often called a rodent ulcer. After biopsy, the removal method used is determined by the size, location, and appearance of the lesion. Synonym: basal cell epithelioma; epithelial cancer See: illustration

illustration

bronchioloalveolar carcinoma

A relatively rare form of non-small cell lung cancer consisting of columnar cells, and in which the tumor arises in the periphery of the lung within the septal borders of the alveoli, which the tumor tends to preserve. The tumor cells frequently produce mucin.

bronchogenic carcinoma

Lung cancer.

chorionic carcinoma

Choriocarcinoma.

choroid plexus carcinoma

A cancer that arises from the cells that line the fluid-filled cavities (ventricles) of the brain.

carcinoma of the colon

See: colorectal cancer

colorectal carcinoma

Colorectal cancer.

carcinoma cuniculatum

Any slowly growing squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, typically presenting as a gradually enlarging warty tumor.

ductal carcinoma in situ of breast

See: ductal carcinoma in situ of breast

embryonal carcinoma

An aggressive germ cell tumor that may metastasize widely. It can occur in young adults of either sex.

epidermoid carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma.

carcinoma erysipelatoides

Metastatic spreading of cancer, usually from an internal organ to the skin, to which the spreading tumor gives a red, inflammatory appearance.

giant cell carcinoma

Carcinoma marked by the presence of unusually large cells.

glandular carcinoma

Adenocarcinoma.

keratinocyte carcinoma

A cancer arising from cells in the epidermis. It includes basal cell carcinomas, keratoacanthomas, and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. Most keratinocyte carcinomas arise in sun-exposed areas of the body, such as the ears, the temples, the forehead or the nose.

carcinoma in situ

Abbreviation: CIS

Malignant cell changes in the epithelial tissue that do not extend beyond the basement membrane.

medullary carcinoma

Carcinoma in which there is a predominance of cells and little fibrous tissue.

melanotic carcinoma

Carcinoma containing melanin.

mucinous carcinoma

Carcinoma in which the glandular tissue secretes mucin.

neuroendocrine carcinoma

Any of a diverse group of malignancies, such as carcinoid, islet cell tumors, neuroblastoma, and small-cell carcinomas of the lung. All have dense core granules and produce polypeptides that can be identified by immunochemical methods.

oat cell carcinoma

A poorly differentiated carcinoma of the bronchus that contains small oat-shaped cells.

Synonym: small cell carcinoma

carcinoma of pancreas

Pancreatic cancer.

pancreatic carcinoma

Pancreatic cancer.

papillary carcinoma of the thyroid

See: papillary carcinoma of the thyroid

renal cell carcinoma

A carcinoma that arises from the proximal tubular cells of the kidney. In 2008 the American Cancer Society estimated there would be about 56,700 new patients diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma and about 13,700 deaths from it. Synonym: hypernephroma; kidney cancer

Symptoms

Because of its location in the retroperitoneum, renal cell carcinoma may grow to a relatively large size before it manifests obvious symptoms. The most common findings are blood in the urine (hematuria), flank pain, or a flank mass. Some patients develop fevers, weight loss, or symptoms caused by hormones excreted by the tumor. These hormones (parathyroid-like hormone or erythropoietin) occasionally cause hypercalcemia or abnormal increases in the red blood cell count (erythrocytosis).

Treatment

Surgical removal of the affected kidney may be curative for those patients whose tumor has not spread outside the perirenal fascia. Treatment options are less successful for patients with metastatic disease because renal cell carcinomas are relatively resistant to chemotherapy.

sarcomatoid carcinoma

A carcinoma that contains both epithelial and mesenchymal components. This cancer may arise from cells in the kidney, urinary bladder, or lung.

scirrhous carcinoma

Hard cancer.

small cell carcinoma

Oat cell carcinoma.

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

squamous cell carcinoma

Carcinoma that develops primarily from squamous cells, e.g., of the skin or in the mouth, lungs, bronchi, esophagus, or cervix. Synonym: epidermoid carcinoma See: illustration

illustrationillustration

thymic carcinoma

A carcinoma found in the anterior mediastinum, usually a squamous cell carcinoma, spindle cell carcinoma, or lymphoepithelioma. Many of these tumors release chemically active substances that cause paraneoplastic syndromes.

transitional cell carcinoma

A carcinoma that originates in cells that line the urinary tract, e.g., in cells that line the inner kidney, the ureters, or the urinary bladder.

Synonym: urothelial carcinoma

urothelial carcinoma

Transitional cell carcinoma.

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BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

basal cell carcinoma

Abbreviation: BCC

The most common human cancer, typically found on skin exposed to sun or other forms of ultraviolet light. Although it is sometimes locally invasive, it rarely metastasizes to other organs. Typically it begins as a small, shiny papule. The lesion enlarges to form a whitish border around a central depression or ulcer that may bleed. When the lesion reaches this stage, it is often called a rodent ulcer. After biopsy, the removal method used is determined by the size, location, and appearance of the lesion. Synonym: basal cell epithelioma; epithelial cancer See: illustration

illustration

See also: carcinoma

basal cell carcinoma

; BCC; rodent ulcer common skin malignancy caused by long-term exposure to ultraviolet light (sunlight) or irradiation, or from pre-existing naevoid lesions; forms as a pearly nodule that later ulcerates; is locally invasive, but rarely metastatic; treated by excision ± skin graft (see Table 1)

Table 1: Examples of cutaneous neoplastic lesions of the elderly

Lesion type	Examples	Comment
Benign	Seborrhoeic warts (basal cell papilloma)	Slow-growing, clearly demarcated, pigmented, ‘stuck-on’ dermal lesions that may form skin tags, occurring especially around the neck in obese individuals
Premalignant	Solar keratoses	Slow-growing pink/grey-brown scaly epidermal lesions occurring in sun-exposed
		skin (dorsa of hands, lower leg, face, bald pate) in subjects >60 years of age; lesions should be regularly monitored as they may undergo malignant changes
	Bowen's disease	Intraepidermal carcinoma (epithelioma) presenting as a small, slow-growing scaly plaque that can become nodular or ulcerate if the lesion extends into the dermis; these lesions should be removed or treated with a topical chemotherapeutic agent such as 5-fluorouracil
Malignant	Squamous cell carcinoma	Keratotic, scaly, elevated or nodular lesion with a depressed centre that may ulcerate, arising in sun-exposed skin; these lesions must undergo biopsy as they may metastasize
	Basal cell carcinoma (rodent ulcer)	Low-grade malignant lesion due to a locally invasive epidermal tumour, with a pearly raised edge and a tendency to central ulceration; these lesions must be biopsied as they may metastasize
	Malignant melanoma	Virulent skin tumour, with 30% of incidence involving lower limb, most commonly occurring after 40 years of age in areas of sun-exposed or non-sun-exposed skin; lesions classically are raised, itchy, may bleed and show an irregular border and irregular pigmentation and/or Hutchinson's sign; these lesions must be biopsied as they may metastasize