Bowen's disease in patients with renal transplantation. Case report

Abstract

Introduction: Bowen's disease is one of the forms of squamous cell carcinoma in situ; it has the appearance of macula, papule or well demarcated hyperkeratotic plate, pink or red scaly, with small erosions and, sometimes, scabs. It is usually located in skin areas exposed to sunlight. In healthy individuals, basal cell carcinoma is more common than squamous cell carcinoma; however, the incidence of squamous type is 65-250 times higher in transplant patients than in the general population, while the incidence of basal cell carcinoma is 10 times higher. Studies indicate that the risk of squamous cell carcinoma in cases with a history of transplantation is directly proportional to the immunosuppressive load required for these patients.

Objective: to present a case of Bowen's disease, which is of importance as it is a premalignant lesion with ability to evolve epidermoid carcinoma, and therefore requires early detection and timely treatment.

Case report: 52 years old male patient, white skin type III, resident in rural area and with a history of secondary renal failure to polycystic kidney disease, transplanted five years ago, and since then treated with prednisone and azathioprine; he was valued at Dermatology Consultation for presenting a skin lesion clinically and histologically compatible with Bowen's disease.

Conclusions: it was determined to make a quarterly monitoring of the patient in the Dermatology Consultation from the history of having been surgically intervened for presenting basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous horn.