Acral and multicentric pigmented Bowen's disease in HIV-Positive patients: Report on two unusual cases

Abstract

In situ squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCCis or Bowen's disease) is a common intraepidermal cutaneous malignancy with a low invasive potential. Acral Bowen's disease is usually solitary, but multiple acral SCCis have been reported. Pigmented Bowen's disease is typically unilesional and characterized by a hyperpigmented plaque with a velvety of keratotic surface, which can eventually simulate melanoma clinically. We describe two HIV-positive patients who presented with multiple pigmented SCCis involving the distal extremities. In patients with immunosuppression, the presence of multiple and hyperpigmented verrucae that clinically do not respond to adequate treatment should raise the differential diagnosis of SCC in situ.

Keywords

• Acral
• bowen's disease
• hiv
• pigmented