Treatment of multifocal Bowen's disease in immunocompromised women with surgery and topical imiquimod.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women, Bowen's disease may be difficult to treat successfully with surgery alone. Imiquimod cream, effective in treating Bowen's disease in healthy women, may be a useful postsurgical treatment in immunocompromised women.

CASES:

Two HIV-infected women had both Bowen's disease and severe cervical dysplasia. In both cases, Bowen's disease, but not cervical dysplasia, recurred after surgical treatment. When treated with topical 5% imiquimod cream twice weekly for 4 months, 70-80% reduction in lesions were observed in both patients. Follow-up biopsies of remaining lesions were vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia 1.

CONCLUSION:

Imiquimod cream, in combination with surgical treatment, may be an appropriate strategy for treatment of Bowen's disease in HIV-infected and other immunocompromised women.

• Authors: Suhasini Kaushal, Melissa Merideth, Pallavi Kopparthy, Tajana Klepac Pulanic, Pamela Stratton
• Journal: Obstetrics and gynecology (Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 119 Issue 2 Pt 2 Pg. 442-444 (Feb 2012) ISSN: 1873-233X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22270432 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural)

Chemical References

• Aminoquinolines
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Imiquimod

Topics

• Adult
• Aminoquinolines (therapeutic use)
• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Bowen's Disease (complications, drug therapy, surgery)
• Female
• HIV Infections (complications, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Imiquimod
• Immunocompromised Host
• Skin Neoplasms (complications, drug therapy, surgery)
• Uterine Cervical Neoplasms (complications, surgery)
• Vulvar Neoplasms (complications, drug therapy, surgery)
• Uterine Cervical Dysplasia (complications, surgery)