(bowen disease) A skin disease marked by scaly or thickened patches on the skin and often caused by prolonged exposure to arsenic. The patches often occur on sun-exposed areas of the skin and in older white men. These patches may become malignant (cancer).

A persistent progressive non-elevated red scaly or crusted plaque which is due to an intradermal carcinoma and is potentially malignant. Atypical squamous cells proliferate through the whole thickness of the epidermis. The lesions may occur anywhere on the skin surface or on mucosal surfaces. The cause most frequently found is trivalent arsenic compounds. Freezing, cauterization or diathermy coagulation is often effective. (From Rook et al., Textbook of Dermatology, 4th ed, pp2428-9)

(bowen disease of the skin) A form of squamous cell carcinoma in situ. It is a distinct clinicopathological entity and arises from the skin or the mucocutaneous junction. It affects predominantly white males in their 6-8th decades of life. Exposed and non-exposed skin sites are equally affected. UV damage and ingestion of inorganic arsenic may play a role in the development of the disease. On the skin surface, it presents as a single or multiple erythematous, scaly, keratotic patches or plaques. The clinical entity of erythroplasia of Queyrat is regarded as Bowen disease of the penis and it presents as an asymptomatic, red, circumscribed plaque. Morphologically, Bowen disease is characterized by the presence of hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, dyskeratosis, and acanthosis. The keratotic squamous cells are atypical and display hyperchromatism and abnormal mitotic figures. The dermoepidermal basement membrane is intact. Complete surgical removal of the lesion may be curative.

Bowen disease is a superficial squamous cell carcinoma in situ. Bowen disease is most common in sun-exposed areas but may arise at any location.

First described by the American dermatologist John T. Bowen in 1912, Bowen disease is a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ with the potential for significant lateral spread.