A case of Bowen’s disease responding well to radiotherapy

Abstract

Bowen’s disease is a form of intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma which is known as carsinoma in situ. The head, neck, and extremities are the most commonly affected anatomic locations. Treatment options for Bowen’s disease include observation, surgery, cryotherapy, electrodesiccation and curettage, topical application of 5-fluorouracil or imiquimod, Moh’s micrographic surgery, photodynamic therapy, and radiotherapy. Radiation therapy is advantageous in patients who refuse surgery, for large or multiple lesions, for lesions in cosmetically sensitive areas, and in patients who are predisposed to formation of keloids, with a high cure rate cited in the literature. Here we report a 70-year-old man who was diagnosed as Bowen’s disease and completely healed with the treatment of radiotherapy. By means of this case report, we will review the current literature and empasize that radiotherapy is an effective treatment alternative for Bowen's disease in the suitable lesions. [Cukurova Med J 2013; 38(4.000): 813-817]

Keywords

• Bowen’s disease
• radiotherapy
• squamous cell carcinoma