Hyperthermic treatment of Bowen's disease with disposable chemical pocket warmers: a report of 8 cases.
Bowen's disease is a form of squamous cell carcinoma in situ, in which local hyperthermia may be efficacious. We studied 8 patients with Bowen's disease to ascertain whether hyperthermia can be effective against it. As a heat source, disposable chemical pocket warmers were applied daily with pressure directly to the lesion site while the patient was awake, and the clinical course was observed for 4 to 5 months. The lesion was then excised and examined to determine the histopathologic effects. The results showed efficacy in 6 cases, in which the nodular and invasive lesions and the erythematous patches abated; then the lesions disappeared, leaving deposits of pigment (complete remission). In one case, the signs improved by at least 50% (partial remission); in the other case, there was only slight palliation (no response). As for the posttreatment histopathologic effects, tumor cells were eliminated in 3 cases, isolated tumor cells were seen in 3 cases, and there was no change in 2. Although the treatment did not yield perfect results, it represents a major improvement of hyperthermic therapy and is one effective method of treating Bowen's disease.
Hiruma
M
M
Department of Dermatology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. m-hiruma@cb3.so-net.ne.jp
Kawada
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001913:Bowen's Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome