Basal cells

MyPathologyReport
December 15, 2023

Basal cells are found in the basal or deepest part of the epithelium, a thin layer of tissue that lines the surface of most organs. These cells have a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and function of the epithelium. Specifically, they serve a pool of less differentiated cells that replace the mature or differentiated cells in the epithelium as they age or become damaged over time. For example, the basal cells in the skin turn into specialized keratinocytes which are found in the upper layers of the epidermis.

What do basal cells look like under the microscope?

Under microscopic examination, basal cells have a large nucleus (the part of the cell that holds the genetic material) and relatively little cytoplasm (the body of the cell) compared to other types of cells. This makes the cells appear blue because the nucleus binds strongly to the blue hematoxylin dye found in the routine H&E stain. Pathologists use the term basaloid to describe cells that have this appearance. Similarly, the term basaloid neoplasm is used to describe a tumour made up primarily of basal cells or basal-like cells.

What types of tumours start from basal cells?

Most tumours that start from basal cells are found in the skin and the salivary glands. The most common is basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. Basal cell adenocarcinoma is a similar type of cancer that typically starts in one of the salivary glands, often the parotid gland. In contrast, basal cell adenoma is a benign (noncancerous) tumour that also typically arises in one of the salivary glands.

About this article

Doctors wrote this article to help you read and understand your pathology report. Contact us with any questions about this article or your pathology report. Read this article for a more general introduction to the parts of a typical pathology report.

Other helpful resources

Atlas of Pathology