[Bowen disease treated with scanned pulsed high energy CO2 laser. Follow-up of 6 cases].

INTRODUCTION

Cutaneous Bowen's disease is an intra-epidermal squamous cell carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Ten cases of cutaneous Bowen's disease diagnosed among 8 patients were treated by scanned high energy carbon dioxide laser between November 1996, and March 1998. A biopsy was performed in all patients before treatment.

RESULTS

The post-treatment follow-up extended from 1 to 4 years with an average follow-up of 2 years and 11 months. Only one patient, whose lesion was located on the auricle, presented a recurrence after one year. The remaining patients did not present any recurrence during their last control: six patients were followed for two years or more and one patient for one year. We demonstrate a histological and clinical correlation between the number of carbon dioxide laser passes before a clinical endpoint and the thickness of the epidermal carcinoma treated.

DISCUSSION

This new treatment has comparable efficacy to other treatments. It can be applied to extensive lesions without sequelae except for the risk of residual hypopigmentation.