title: Bowenoid papulosis. Classification as a low-grade in situ carcinoma of the epidermis on the basis of histomorphologic and DNA ploidy studies.
abstract: The nature of bowenoid papulosis was investigated by a comparative investigation of 12 biopsy specimens of this lesion, 19 biopsy specimens of Bowen's disease, 14 biopsy specimens of squamous cell carcinoma and 10 biopsy specimens of seborrheic keratosis. In addition to conventional histomorphologic and cytomorphologic studies, nuclear DNA measurements on single cells isolated from tissue blocks were performed using a TV image analysis system combined with an automatic microscope. Two parameters, the "5c exceeding rate" (5cER) and the "2c deviation index" (2cDI), were computed from the single-cell DNA values to arrive at a "DNA diagnosis" and a "DNA malignancy grade" (DNA-MG). All specimens of bowenoid papulosis and Bowen's disease were morphologically diagnosed as in situ carcinomas of the epidermis; a DNA diagnosis of malignant was rendered in all of these specimens due to the detection of aneuploid nuclei (5cER greater than or equal to 1). DNA diagnoses of malignant were also rendered on all specimens of squamous cell carcinoma (100% sensitivity) while DNA diagnoses of benign were rendered in all specimens of seborrheic keratosis (100% specificity). The mean DNA-MG for bowenoid papulosis (0.69) was significantly lower than that for Bowen's disease (1.04) and squamous cell carcinoma (1.15). The mean morphologic (Broder's) grade of malignancy was also lower for bowenoid papulosis than for Bowen's disease and squamous cell carcinoma. HPV 16 DNA was detected in 10 of 12 specimens of bowenoid papulosis. Thus, the results of DNA image cytometry and morphologic investigation suggest that bowenoid papulosis is a low-grade carcinoma in situ of the epidermis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Aachen University of Technology, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Böcking
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chatelain
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salterberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagedorn
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gross
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001913:Bowen's Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011003:Ploidies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm