Persistent erythematous lesion of the vulva: a diagnostic and treatment challenge.
The painful, erythematous and eroded vulva often proves to be a diagnostic problem both clinically and histologically. Its differential diagnosis includes both non-neoplastic and neoplastic diseases like Bowen's disease and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We report the case of a 62-year-old woman diagnosed, after considerable delay, with Bowen's disease of the vulva that eventually progressed to invasive SCC, despite the treatment with imiquimod 5% cream. Our case indicates, on one hand, that dermoscopy could contribute to the accuracy of the pre-operative clinical diagnosis. On the other hand it confirms the fact that treatment of Bowen's disease of the vulva could be rather intriguing. Although imiquimod 5% cream is an effective, non-invasive treatment option for large lesions or poor healing sites, it should be administered with great consideration in carefully selected cases.
Aristotle University Medical School, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Elizabeth
E
Lazaridou
Christina
C
Fotiadou
Christina
C
Giannopoulou
Demetrios
D
Ioannides
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001913:Bowen's Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014844:Vulva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000077271:Imiquimod