title: Morphometric characteristics of basal cell carcinoma peritumoral stroma varies among basal cell carcinoma subtypes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role that the peritumoral stroma plays in the growth of tumours is currently poorly understood. In this manuscript the morphometric characteristics of basal cell carcinoma subtypes and their associated peritumoral stromas are presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety eight digitized basal cell carcinoma histology slides were categorized as infiltrative, nodular, or superficial subtypes, and were analysed using a combination of manual and computer-assisted approaches. The morphometric characteristics of the tumour nests and their associated peritumoral stroma were quantified, and the presence of a marked immune reaction or elastosis was noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tumour to stroma ratio was different among each tumour subtype. Elastosis was identified in a greater proportion of the infiltrative tumours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative differences exist between the peritumoral stroma of basal cell carcinoma subtypes. Future work exploring the relation between these morphometric differences and biochemical variations in peritumoral stroma may further our understanding of the biology of carcinoma development.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Not applicable.
authors.affiliation: O'Brien Centre for the BHSc, 3330 Hospital Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lesack
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naugler
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000473:pathology*