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$Unique_ID{BRK03536}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Bowen's Disease}
$Subject{Bowen's Disease Intraepidermal Squamous cell Carcinoma Precancerous
Dermatosis Psoriasis Paget's Disease of the Breast Malignant Melanoma}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
608:
Bowen's Disease
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible that the main title of the article (Bowen's Disease) is
not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the
alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Intraepidermal Squamous cell Carcinoma
Precancerous Dermatosis
Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Psoriasis
Paget's Disease of the Breast
Malignant Melanoma
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Bowen's Disease is characterized by a precancerous, slow growing skin
malignancy. The major symptom is a red-brown, scaly or crusted patch on the
skin which resembles psoriasis or dermatitis. It may occur on any part of
the skin or in the mucous membranes.
Symptoms
The first sign of Bowen's Disease is a plaque located on or within the skin
(intraepidermal). It is a scaly area which may be recognized as squamous
cell carcinoma in the initial stage of development. Pinkish or brownish
raised areas of skin (papules) appear. They are usually irregular in shape
and covered with a light crusty covering which, when removed, shows an oozing
red surface. Bowen's Disease may be confused with common skin disorders as
psoriasis or other similar types of dermatitis. It is slow growing and
responds well to immediate treatment, but if left untreated Bowen's Disease
can result in skin cancer and eventually spread to other parts of the body.
Causes
The exact cause of Bowen's Disease is not known. Like many forms of skin
cancer, chronic sun exposure may cause it to develop. Ingestion of arsenic
can be associated with the occurrence of the disease in skin ares unexposed
to light, or in the mucous membranes. Human papillomavirus 16 DNA is found
repeatedly in Bowen's Disease lesions, suggesting that a slow virus is also a
possible cause. (Slow viruses may stay dormant in humans for extended periods
of time, then for reasons yet unknown, may unexplainably become reactivated.
The role of heredity which may make a person susceptible to slow viruses is
not well understood). In other cases, no cause can be determined.
Affected Population
Bowen's Disease affects both males and females. However, when found in the
genital area, women are affected three times as often as men. The disease
may occur at any age but is very rare in children.
Related Disorders
Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Bowen's
Disease. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
Psoriasis is a common chronic and recurrent skin disorder characterized
by dry, well-circumscribed silvery gray scaling spots or plaques which
usually appear on the scalp, elbows, or knees. Symptoms may begin gradually.
Psoriasis characteristically involves the scalp, extremities, the back and
buttocks with sharply outlined lesions consisting of red spots or plaques
covered with scales that usually do not itch. These lesions may heal without
scarring and hair growth near the plaques is not affected. In severe cases,
Psoriasis lesions may appear in pustular form. General health usually is not
affected, unless severe arthritis (psoriatic arthritis) or untreatable
scaling develops. However, stress may be caused by the stigma of an
unsightly skin disorder. (For more information on these disorders, choose
"Psoriasis" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Paget's Disease of the Breast (which is not related to Paget's Disease of
bone) is characterized by cancer of the nipples of the breast. It can occur
in both men and women. The major symptoms include an oozy, crusty skin
inflammation (dermatitis) of the nipple which is nearly always associated
with glandular (adenocarcinoma) cancer of the breast. A form of Paget's
Disease of the Breast also affects the genital area, primarily in women.
This condition responds well to treatment when it occurs on the surface of
the skin. In cases associated with carcinoma of the rectum, treatment may be
more difficult.
Malignant Melanoma is a common form of skin cancer. It is marked by
tumors of the pigmentation cells (melanocyte) of the skin. These tumors may
appear in different sizes, shapes, and shades of color, and may spread to
adjacent parts of the body. Tumors may also spread through the blood and
lymph circulation to other organs. Early treatment of malignant Melanoma is
essential in order to cure the disease.
Therapies: Standard
Treatment of Bowen's Disease usually involves surgical removal of the
malignancy. Carbon dioxide lasers are the most effective method of removing
surface skin lesions. Other types of growths require different types of
surgery. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
Therapies: Investigational
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through April
1989. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every
entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please
check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current
information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on this disorder, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
The Skin Cancer Foundation
475 Park Avenue, South
New York, NY 10016
(212) 725-5176
American Cancer Society
1599 Clifton Rd., NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 320-3333
NIH/National Cancer Institute
9000 Rockville Pike, Bldg. 31, Rm. 1A2A
Bethesda, MD 20892
1-800-4-CANCER
The National Cancer Institute has developed PDQ (Physician Data Query), a
computerized database designed to give the public, cancer patients and
families, and health professionals quick and easy access to many types of
information vital to patients with this and many other types of cancer. To
gain access to this service, call:
Cancer Information Service (CIS)
1-800-4-CANCER
In Washington, DC and suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, 636-5700
In Alaska, 1-800-638-6070
In Oahu, Hawaii, (808) 524-1234 (Neighbor islands call collect)
The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Information Clearinghouse
Box AMS
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 495-4484
References
INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2nd Ed.: Jay H. Stein, ed.-in-chief; Little, Brown and
Co., 1987. Pp. 1114, 1373, 1389.
BOWEN'S DISEASE OF THE FEET. PRESENCE OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS 16 DNA IN
TUMOR TISSUE. M.S. Stone, et al.; Arch Dermatol (November, 1987, issue 123
(11)). Pp. 1517-1520.
BOWEN'S DISEASE AND INTERNAL MALIGNANT DISEASES. A STUDY OF 581
PATIENTS. F. Reymann, et al.; Arch Dermatol (May, 1988, issue 124 (5)). Pp.
677-679.
BOWENOID PAPULOSIS IN A THREE-YEAR-OLD GIRL. C. Halsz, et al.; J Am Acad
Dermatol (February, 1986, issue 14 (2 Pt 2)). Pp. 326-330.