Comparative karyometry in Bowen's disease and bowenoid papulosis. Derivation of a nuclear atypia index

Bowen's disease and bowenoid papulosis are two diseases that are currently viewed as low grade in situ carcinomas of the epidermis. Their distinction is sometimes disputed. We undertook a morphometric comparison of the size and shape of nuclei in these diseases. We also derived an index of nuclear atypia combining changes in the medians and coefficients of variation of nuclear areas, and variation in the nuclear contour indexes. Significant differences were found in the morphometric parameters between Bowen's disease and bowenoid papulosis. The etiology, clinical aspects and karyometric evaluations allow a distinction between these two diseases.