eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Viral Infections

Bowenoid Papulosis: Follow-up

Author: Edward A DiPreta, MD, Dermatologist, Brunswick Dermatology
Coauthor(s): Kurt Maggio, MD, Director of Dermatologic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, Assistant Chief, Department of Dermatology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Dec 8, 2008

Follow-up

Further Inpatient Care

  • Bowenoid papulosis may show malignant change; therefore, follow-up treatment is warranted every 3-6 months if the lesions recur or do not resolve.

Further Outpatient Care

  • Perform serial examinations.

Deterrence/Prevention

  • Advise patients to avoid direct contact with lesions.
  • Advise patients to seek prompt treatment.

Complications

  • Bowenoid papulosis has an increased potential to cause cervical neoplasia, vulvar neoplasia, Bowen disease, and invasive squamous cell carcinoma.

Prognosis

  • Prognosis is variable. Younger patients tend to have a self-limiting course lasting months. Patients who are older or immunocompromised can have a protracted course lasting years and, possibly, no resolution.

Patient Education

  • Educate patients regarding the malignant potential of bowenoid papulosis and the avoidance of direct sexual contact to decrease transmission of the disease.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Failure to refer female patients with BP for appropriate gynecologic examination
  • Failure to counsel patients regarding the sexual transmission and malignant potential of this condition
 


More on Bowenoid Papulosis

Overview: Bowenoid Papulosis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Bowenoid Papulosis
Treatment & Medication: Bowenoid Papulosis
Follow-up: Bowenoid Papulosis
Multimedia: Bowenoid Papulosis
References
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References

  1. Johnson TM, Saluja A, Fader D, Blum D, Cotton J, Wang TS, et al. Isolated extragenital bowenoid papulosis of the neck. J Am Acad Dermatol. Nov 1999;41(5 Pt 2):867-70. [Medline].

  2. Goorney BP, Polori R. A case of Bowenoid papulosis of the penis successfully treated with topical imiquimod cream 5%. Int J STD AIDS. Dec 2004;15(12):833-5. [Medline].

  3. Lucker GP, Speel EJ, Creytens DH, van Geest AJ, Peeters JH, Claessen SM, et al. Differences in imiquimod treatment outcome in two patients with bowenoid papulosis containing either episomal or integrated human papillomavirus 16. J Invest Dermatol. Mar 2007;127(3):727-9. [Medline].

  4. Orengo I, Rosen T, Guill CK. Treatment of squamous cell carcinoma in situ of the penis with 5% imiquimod cream: a case report. J Am Acad Dermatol. Oct 2002;47(4 Suppl):S225-8. [Medline].

  5. Ricart JM, Cordoba J, Hernandez M, Esplugues I. Extensive genital bowenoid papulosis responding to imiquimod. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. Jan 2007;21(1):113-5. [Medline].

  6. Champion RH, Burton JL, Burns DA. Rook/Wilkinson/Ebling Textbook of Dermatology. Vols 1-2. 6th ed. London, UK: Blackwell Science; 1998:1047, 1676, 3197-8, 3233.

  7. de Belilovsky C, Lessana-Leibowitch M. [Bowen's disease and bowenoid papulosis: comparative clinical, viral, and disease progression aspects]. Contracept Fertil Sex. Mar 1993;21(3):231-6. [Medline].

  8. Elder D, Elenitsas R, Jaworsky C. Lever's Histopathology of the Skin. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott-Raven; 1997:579, 584-6.

  9. Grekin RC, Samlaska CP, Vin Christian K. Andrews Diseases of the Skin. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000:515.

  10. Majewski S, Jablonska S. Human papillomavirus-associated tumors of the skin and mucosa. J Am Acad Dermatol. May 1997;36(5 Pt 1):659-85; quiz 686-8. [Medline].

  11. Patterson JW, Kao GF, Graham JH, Helwig EB. Bowenoid papulosis. A clinicopathologic study with ultrastructural observations. Cancer. Feb 15 1986;57(4):823-36. [Medline].

  12. Schwartz RA, Janniger CK. Bowenoid papulosis. J Am Acad Dermatol. Feb 1991;24(2 Pt 1):261-4. [Medline].

  13. Schwartz RA, Stoll HL. Epithelial precancerous lesions. In: Freedberg IM, Fitzpatrick T, eds. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. Vol 1. 5th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1999:831-2.

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Further Reading

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Keywords

bowenoid papulosis, human papillomavirus, human papilloma virus, HPV, viral keratosis, bowenoid papulosis of the penis, bowenoid papulosis of the genitalia, multifocal indolent pigmented penile papules

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Edward A DiPreta, MD, Dermatologist, Brunswick Dermatology
Edward A DiPreta, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: medicis Consulting fee Review panel membership

Coauthor(s)

Kurt Maggio, MD, Director of Dermatologic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, Assistant Chief, Department of Dermatology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Mark W Cobb, MD, Consulting Staff, WNC Dermatological Associates
Mark W Cobb, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, and American Society of Dermatopathology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Lester F Libow, MD, Dermatopathologist, South Texas Dermatopathology Laboratory
Lester F Libow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE, Medical Director, Clinical Studies Unit, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Associate Scholar, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania
Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: AMGEN Consulting fee Consulting; AMGEN Grant/research funds None; Genentech Consulting fee Consulting; Centocor Consulting fee Consulting; Centocor Grant/research funds None; Covance Consulting fee Consulting; Shire  Consulting

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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