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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Cell Population Analyses During Skin Carcinogenesis
Published on: August 21, 2013
Basal Cell Carcinoma among Cutaneous Tumours in "Caricature," Painted by Bartolomeo Passerotti (1529-1592)
Andrzej Wincewicz1, Piotr Woltanowski2
1Specialist Medical Practice - Pathologist, Non-Public Health Care Unit, Department of Pathology (NZOZ Zakład Patologii Spółka z o.o.), Kielce, Poland, andwinc@gmail.com.
Abstract:
A fine and fair depiction of basal cell carcinoma is documented with great fidelity in "Caricature" by Bartolomeo Passerotti (1529-1592). The cancer is pearly white and contains an elevated centre with a sharp and somewhat depressed outline due to ulceration of the lesion. The painting is of essential didactic worth for practicing medical doctors. In addition, the masterpiece contains images of the brown elevated lesions that could turn out to be verrucous melanocytic nevi or pigmented seborrheic keratoses, but it cannot be excluded that these nodules are also basal cell carcinomas covered by a brownish crust. It is standard that microscopic verification is required for all these tumours. However, a pearly white irregular tumour is the most characteristic macroscopic presentation of basal cell carcinoma.
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