Ann Dermatol.  2014 Apr;26(2):241-245. 10.5021/ad.2014.26.2.241.

Photodynamic Therapy for Bowen's Disease of the Vulva Area

• Kang HK
• Yun JH
• Son YM
• Roh JY
• Lee JR

• KMID: 2171662
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2014.26.2.241

Abstract

Bowen's disease is a squamous cell carcinoma in situ and has the potential to progress to a squamous cell carcinoma. The authors treated two female patients (a 39-year-old and a 41-year-old) with Bowen's disease in the vulva area using topical photodynamic therapy (PDT), involving the use of 5-aminolaevulinic acid and a light-emitting diode device. The light was administered at an intensity of 80 mW/cm2 for a dose of 120 J/cm2 biweekly for 6 cycles. The 39-year-old patient showed excellent clinical improvement, but the other patient achieved only a partial response. Even though one patient underwent a total excision 1 year later due to recurrence, both patients were satisfied with the cosmetic outcomes of this therapy and the partial improvement over time. The common side effect of PDT was a stinging sensation. PDT provides a relatively effective and useful alternative treatment for Bowen's disease in the vulva area.

Keyword

Bowen's disease; Photochemotherapy; Vulva area

MeSH Terms

Adult
Bites and Stings
Bowen's Disease*
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Female
Humans
Photochemotherapy*
Recurrence
Sensation
Vulva*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) Erosive patches and verrucous papules with a pinkish center and a black-pigmented margin on the left labium minor. (B) After six sessions of photodynamic treatment.

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  Fig. 2 The cells lie in disorder with a windblown appearance in the epidermis (H&E, ×100).

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  Fig. 3 Erosive macerative patches and verrucous papules on both major labia.

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  Fig. 4 The histopathological specimen revealed pronounced acanthosis, hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis with atypical cells and mitosis in the epidermis (H&E, ×100).

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