Bowen's disease on the right temple of a 85 year old patient
Bowen's disease (BD) is an intraepidermal carcinoma in situ of the skin. The BD precancerosis affects people over the age of 40. Men are more frequently affected. The type of skin does not play a role in the development of BD. The BD is less common than the Actinic keratosis.
Skin lesions though BD appear similar to those, caused by psoriasis or a nummular eczema: Macroscopically a well-defined and strangely shaped skin lesion is seen. It shows erythemato-squamous changes, in some cases also ceratotic changes. BD can theoretically appear on every part of the body. It is mainly found on the skin of the face, torso, hands and lower legs. The persistency and the solitary appearance of the disease are characteristic.
(Author: Klaus D. Peter, Gummersbach)
