Cowden's disease

Cowden's disease, a rare genodermatosis, is associated with characteristic cutaneous and oral lesions: papillomas, verrucous papules, and acral keratoses. Various internal anomalies involving the breast, thyroid, and gastrointestinal, reproductive, and skeletal systems are also seen in patients with this syndrome complex. Twelve of the thirty-two reported patients have been subject to cancers, most commonly of the breast. The characteristic skin and oral lesions make possible an early diagnosis of this disease and permit close follow-up of these patients for the development of any internal disease.