Pathology · single question
Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral epithelium arises primarily from which epithelial layer?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Stratum spinosum
- A. Correct. SCC is a malignancy of the prickle-cell (spinous) layer keratinocytes — the tumor cells show squamous differentiation with intercellular bridges and keratin pearls characteristic of stratum spinosum.
- B. Basal cell carcinoma arises from the basal layer; it is essentially unheard of on oral mucosa.
- C. The stratum corneum is anucleate keratin — it cannot give rise to a proliferative neoplasm.
- D. The lamina propria is connective tissue; malignancies there are sarcomas, not carcinomas.