Giant Bowen's Disease on the Face: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Background: Giant Bowen's disease is a rare and unusual clinical manifestation. Presenting as extensive scaly erythematous patch or plaque, it gives rise to a wide spectrum of dermatological differential diagnoses.

Case presentation: We report a patient with giant Bowen's disease on the face that was successfully treated with topical 5 % imiquimod. A review of the literature was made with the aim to analyse and compare the findings in it with our observation.

Conclusion: We present this case to draw attention to the importance of the self skin examination in the elderly population. Also, to prevent development to invasive squamous cell carcinoma from Bowen's disease, we recommend mandatory dermoscopic examination on every long-standing erythemosquamous lesion.

Keywords: Giant Bowen’s disease; dermoscopy; histopathology.

Figure 1

Large scaly erythematous plaque on the left cheek

Figure 2

Dermoscopic findings: dotted vessels and yellow-white opaque scales on an erythematous background

Figure 3

Histopathology, H&E: Parakeratosis in stratum corneum, atypia, pleomorphism, dyskeratotic cells and some mitotic figures in the epidermis

Figure 4

Complete healing of the Bowen’s lesion after 6 months treatment with 5 % imiquimod