Occasionally appeared on the skin a new formation similar to, for example, a wart may be a harbinger of a terrible disease - squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, it is necessary to know at least some signs of Bowen's illness and, without hesitation, go for advice to a specialist.
What is Bowen's disease
Bowen's disease is a formation on the skin that is transformed into an oncological form - squamous cell carcinoma, if not treated on time. Experts differed in their opinions about the definition of what Bowen's disease is.
Another part of the specialists defines the disease as a precancerous condition. Because it is located in the upper part of the skin - the epidermis, does not develop other tissues and does not create a metastasis.
Localization
A tumor can appear on any part of the skin, including the mucous membranes. Statistics show that the greatest number of cases occur in the head, on the genitals and palms of the formation of three times less common, slightly less than the number of lesions of the mucous membranes of the mouth.
The picture shows Bowen's disease on the skin of a man
Species
Specialists distinguish such forms of the disease:
- disease of the nail bed,
- anular,
- pigmentary,
- verruzed.
Some features of the manifestation of the disease:
- The location of formation in the skin folds is accompanied by dermatitis with a sharp odor, possibly the appearance of dark spots.
- Manifestation of Bowen's disease in the form of a pigmentary form is rare. In this case, the formation is colored in a dark color.
- Sometimes Bowen's disease is diagnosed as a result of the presence of skin problems: Bockeratosis, poikilodermia, congenital nevus, epidermal nevus. There is an opinion that in these cases there is only a similarity with this disease, more precisely, it is called bovenoid scar keratosis.
- If peeling occurs along the nail plate, the nail loses its natural color, possibly the appearance of crusts in inflamed areas, this is a case of Bowen's disease on the nail bed.
Causes of
The provoking factors for a possible manifestation of the disease are:
- Changes in skin integrable over time, which are usually called senile.
- Consequences of skin trauma.
- Exposure to aggressive chemicals: tar, soot, arsenic, tar.
- Negative effects of ionizing radiation.
- Effect of ultraviolet rays.
- It is observed that Bowen's disease can develop as a consequence of some skin problems:
- of actinic keratosis,
- of Mibelli's porokeratosis,
- of Lewandowski-Lutz epidermodysplasia,
- Kaposi angioreticulosis,
- corneal cyst,
- when psoriasis patients undergo photochemotherapy.
- Some specialists associate the appearance of symptoms of the disease with a viral infection, namely oncogenic papilloma.
Clinical symptoms of intraepithelial cancer
The problem can arise as a single neoplasm, and in the form of lesions with multiple foci. Visually Bowen's disease looks like a plaque, the edges of which are elevated.
In the initial stage, the lesion has the form of a spot with unevenly delineated boundaries. Over time, it changes into a plaque with a scaly top.
The diameter of the neoplasm can reach five centimeters. If there are multiple plaques, they tend to unite in one hearth.
The color of the lesion is red. The surface is covered with closely spaced scales. They are easily removed. Peripheral growth of the neoplasm is possible.
No borderline of the plaque is observed. Education can resemble a psoriatic plaque, perhaps similar to eczema. If the lubrication of lesinene lesions does not improve, Bowen's disease is suspected.
Education looks uneven. Can have areas with different color intensities. In places where scales are removed - the surface is moist, velvety, uneven. Warty inclusions can be observed.
In case of localization of the problem on the penis is often found on the foreskin from the inside. The possibility of men's disease is more likely after forty years.
A plaque appears on the penis, well limited. The view is smooth and moist, the color is red. Bowen's disease in this place is called Keira's erythroplasia.
Plaque development can have many years of experience, slow pace. A third of cases according to statistics are transformed into squamous cell carcinoma. If the disease has degenerated into an oncology, the surface of education is covered with ulcers.
Diagnostic methods
A biopsy method can confirm the assumption of Bowen's disease after visual inspection. The site with the affected skin is studied under a microscope.
You can make a comparative diagnosis:
- Bowen's disease on the nail bed is similar to a fungal infection, a glomus tumor, a pyogenic granuloma.
- Verrux fungus resembles inflamed seborrheic keratosis.
- Pigment form imitates pigmentary basal cell.
- If Bowen's disease has occurred on the surface of the breast, there will be similarity to Paget's disease.
Treatment of
If the lesion is small, the optimal solution will be excision of pathology.
Exposure to the focus methods:
- electrocoagulation,
- cryodestruction,
- laser irradiation,
- X-ray therapy,
- application of drug therapy.
The listed methods suppress cancer cells.
The specialist selects the type of care, given the location of the plaque, its size and degree of development. If necessary, the methods are applied by combining them with each other.
If the lesion is in the initial stage, the doctor may recommend the application of fluorouracil and propidin ointments.
If the event does not produce a result, then the plaque is removed by surgery.
Include other methods as additional or basic in those cases when excision of education can not be made. Close-focus fluoroscopy is used if it is necessary to treat pathology on the mucous membranes.
If it is necessary to strengthen the effect, connect photodynamic therapy with the use of aminolevulinic acid. Well proven in the fight against the problem drug acitretin. Self-medication in overcoming Bowen's disease is unacceptable, one should strictly follow the appointment of a specialist.
With the permission of the doctor, it is allowed to connect to the therapy of folk methods of healing.
Recipes:
- Foci of the disease can be moistened with hemlock tincture. To do this, dried grass( 5 g) is combined with lime water( 350 ml).This solution can be applied to the affected area of the compress.
- Inward take the celandine infusion. If you use this method, you should stop using sweet foods. Four teaspoons of herbs are brewed in a liter of boiling water and drunk during the day, dividing into four parts.
- Use also decoction of the roots of arizema Japanese. The roots are excavated in early spring.
- Make a strong broth from the dry grass of the marshwort. Take 30 g of raw material for a glass of boiling water. The medicine is consumed five times a day, one spoonful per reception. If you mix one part of the tincture with two parts of honey and the same amount of oil, you get a curative ointment that can be applied as a compress to the sore spots.
Forecast and Prevention
The earlier Bowen's disease is seen, the more favorable the forecast for overcoming the problem. It is necessary to start treatment before education starts to develop in the oncology direction.
Preventive measures:
- Avoid exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation.
- Avoid contact with corrosive chemical media. If you have to work with them, use individual protective equipment.
- Closely inspect the skin after forty years, if suspected of changing existing formations consult with an oncologist.
- If there is an infection with papillomas of an oncologic type, watch your health.
- Do not allow injurious effects on the skin, if it does, then carefully treat it.
- For skin dermatitis, see a dermatologist.
- If neoplasm occurs, immediately consult an oncologist for advice.