Perianal Bowen's disease and associated malignancies. Results of a survey

In 1959, Graham and Helwig reported that 80 percent of patients with Bowen's disease developed associated cutaneous or internal malignancies. Subsequent to the publication of this report, extensive and invasive workup of patients with Bowen's disease became the standard of practice. The authors' personal experience with perianal Bowen's disease suggested a substantially lower correlation between that disease and associated malignancies. Therefore a survey was initiated by contacting active members of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons to investigate further. Analysis of 106 cases demonstrated a lower incidence of associated malignancies (4.7 percent) subsequent to diagnosis of perianal Bowen's disease. The data further indicated, however, that these patients are at risk to develop recurrent Bowen's disease (9.4 percent) and invasive carcinoma (5.7 percent). It is concluded that an extensive and invasive workup of patients with perianal Bowen's disease is not indicated and that the patient's greatest risk is development of recurrent or invasive disease.