A Clinicopathologic Study of Bowen's Disease / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Bowen's disease is a form of intraepidermal (in situ) squamous cell carcinoma in histopathology, the representative premalignancy of the cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and is usually persistent and progressive, with a small potential for invasive malignancy by 3-5%. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of Bowen's disease. METHODS: A total of 45 patients with Bowen's disease were enrolled in this study. The hospital charts and histopathological slides were reviewed at Chungnam university hospital from 1983 to 2002. RESULTS: The male and female ratio was 1 1.14. The mean age at diagnosis was 63 years. Twenty-two cases (58%) of solitary bowen's disease were located in non sun exposed area. Trunck, extremities, genital area followed in decreased order. Sixteen cases (42%) of solitary bowen's diseases occurred on the sun-exposed area. Face, dorsum of hand followed in decreased order. Thirty-three cases(73%) of single lesions and seven cases(27%) of multiple lesion. Analysis of clinical character of the Bowen's disease was performed and results were as follows the most common type were patch(20 cases; 44%) and plaque (18 cases; 40%). And nodule, ulcer and papule type in decreased order. Analysis of histopathological character of the Bowen's disease was performed and results were as follows the most common type were psoriasiform(15 cases; 41%) and irregular (12 cases; 32%). And verrucous, atrophic and combined type in decreased order. CONCLUSION: In Bowen's disease among Koreans, there were many distinctive clinical and histopathological features compared to those of non-Korean cases. In Korean cases, Bowen's diseases were located on sun exposed area only 42%, pigmented lesions were 20% and sex ratio 1 1.14(male female).