title: 5-fluorouracil iontophoretic therapy for Bowen's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is an accepted therapy for Bowen's disease. Recurrences with this method have been attributed to deep follicular involvement and poor patient compliance because of the prolonged treatment time required.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine whether iontophoresis of 5-FU is an effective therapy for Bowen's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six patients with biopsy-proven Bowen's disease received eight 5-FU iontophoretic treatments in 4 weeks. Local excision was done 3 months after the last treatment. The specimens were step-sectioned and evaluated for any histologic evidence of bowenoid changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 1 of 26 patients showed histologic evidence of Bowen's disease 3 months after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  5-FU iontophoresis appears to be a safe, effective, and well-tolerated therapy for Bowen's disease.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Grabski
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: McCollough
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Skelton
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001913:Bowen's Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007478:Iontophoresis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005472:Fluorouracil