Intraepidermal SCC

• Intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma (Bowen disease) is a very early form of squamous cell skin cancer where cancerous cells are confined to the epidermis
• Risk factors:

  • Sun exposure
  • Arsenic
  • Ionising radiation
  • HPV - infects basal layer, as it replicated and turns into squamous cells there is high levels HPV DNA replication
  • Immune suppression
  • Up to 50% have other skin cancers - mainly BCC
• Clinical features:

  • Irregular scaly plaques up to several cm in diameter
  • Often orange-red colour but can also be brown
  • Most commonly on sun exposed areas e.g. face, hands, lower legs
  • Tends to present on lower legs in women
• Diagnosis:

  • Can be diagnosed clinically from appearance and dermatoscopy
  • Sometimes need biopsy to confirm results
• Prognosis:

  • Recurrence rate is high
  • May recur months or years after treatment
  • Same treatment/procedure can be repeated or another method used