Two of three entries of mine were recognized in the 2024 Nikon Small World Photo competition. Over 2,100 entries from 80 countries. I’m thrilled and honored to have placed along side such talented people.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) arises from the basal (bottom) layer of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin). It is the most common type of skin cancer and its cause is deeply associated with chronic exposure to sunlight.

In this picture (H&E stain, 400x), we can see the epidermis (pink, top layer) and, below, the dermis (grayish layer). At the bottom of the epidermis, there are abnormal, weird cells with big, irregular nuclei (the purple “balls”) leaving their proper layer and infiltrating the dermis – those are the cancerous cells that compose the BCC.

There are many subtypes of BCC and this one, considering its big ugly cells – also known as “monster cells” –, is quite rare, and it is called Pleomorphic Basal Cell Carcinoma. Contrary to what one may think, this variant isn’t any more aggressive as the variants that doesn’t show any “monster cells”!

An oblique Rheinberg illumination technique makes it look like you are in there swimming with the amphipod. Microscope is a $65 IQCREW inverted microscope.