Bowenoid papulosis is a rare sexually transmitted disease and is presumably caused by the type 16 human papilloma virus. Pathology is characterized by the appearance of local lesions on the genitals of women and men. Neoplasms may have a reddish-brown or purple hue. As a rule, they reach small sizes, rise above the skin and in some cases seem velvety to the touch.
Signs and Symptoms
The lesions caused by this rare disease can go away on their own in a couple of weeks, however, postponing a visit to the doctor is strictly not recommended. There are cases when the neoplasms did not go away for several years. Bowenoid papulosis in women can be localized inside the vagina, on the clitoris, on the labia minora and labia minora, in the anus. In men, lesions are found on the head, foreskin and body of the penis, as well as in the anus. Neoplasms are usually smooth, sometimes velvety; in women, they have a darker color.
Most patients with a similar diagnosis simultaneously suffer from other viral infections that preceded the development of bowenoid papulosis. Typical examples are herpes simplex virus, human papillomavirus and HIV. When examined under a microscope, the structure of neoplasms looks like tissue of preinvasive squamous cell carcinoma (a type of cancer cell). In some cases, bowenoid papulosis degenerates into an oncological disease.
Causes
This pathology is a sexually transmitted disease and is thought to be caused by type 16 human papilloma virus. The presence of other viral infections, coupled with a weakened immune system, may increase the risk of contracting this sexually transmitted disease.
Average patient
The disease affects men (average age 30 years) and women (average age 32 years) who live an active sex life. In the medical literature, you can find examples of diagnosing pathology in people from 3 to 80 years old. Currently, the infection is gradually spreading, covering all continents and countries of the world.
How to identify a disease
A professional doctor with an impressive track record of experience is able to diagnose Bowenoid papulosis by its typical clinical presentation. Procedures such as dermoscopy and skin biopsy help confirm the initial diagnosis. A biopsy is also prescribed to detect squamous cell carcinoma.
Differential diagnosis
Symptoms of the following diseases may be similar to those of a bowenoid papulosis. Take into account comparative characteristics to distinguish one pathology from another.
- Bowen's disease (lenticular discoid diskeratosis) is the appearance of precancerous, slowly growing skin malignant neoplasms. The main symptom is a brown-red, peeling or dry-crusted area on the skin that resembles psoriasis or dermatitis in appearance. Unlike a disorder such as Bowenoid papulosis, Bowen's disease manifests itself on any part of the body, on the skin or on the mucous membranes.
- Condyloma is a common infectious sexually transmitted disease caused by the human papilloma virus and affecting the body through direct sexual contact. Warts, characteristic of this infection, protrude above the skin, reach a small size, have a red or pink color. To the touch, such formations are soft and moist. They can appear both on the skin and on the mucous membranes of the genitals, the oral cavity, the anus or the rectum. Most often, condylomas form bundles.
- Red flat lichen ( Wilson's lichen ) is a recurring itchy inflammation of the skin, in which small, independent from each other angular spots appear that can join each other and form large areas with a rough, flaky surface. While bowenoid papulosis is equally common in men and women, red lichen in most cases affects the fairer sex. Lesions are usually found on the bends of the wrists and legs, as well as on the torso, glands, penis and mucous membranes of the oral cavity and vagina.
Standard therapy
If you suspect you have a bowenoid papulosis (photos of typical lesions can be found on medical forums), you should consult a doctor as soon as possible for professional differential diagnosis and long-term monitoring. As a rule, specialists first carefully monitor the patient's condition. Sometimes the disease goes away suddenly, of course, and does not require the appointment of therapy. Sexual activity should be minimized to prevent transmission to other people during the infectious phase of the disease.
If necessary, doctors prescribe electrosurgery, cryodestruction (tissue freezing with liquid nitrogen) and / or laser surgery to remove neoplasms. Viral warts are treated in the same way .
In relatively mild cases, it is sufficient to use "5-Fluorouracil" - a chemical substance that prevents cell division and thus relieves bowenoid papulosis. Reviews about it are both positive and neutral - a lot depends on the degree of infection. The medication is available to ordinary consumers in the form of an ointment.
Electrosurgery
Electrosurgery is used in dermatology to stop bleeding and to destroy abnormal skin tumors. During this procedure, a high-frequency alternating electric current of various voltages passes through the skin, generating heat. To do this, you need a power source and a special device with one or more electrodes:
- Electrofulgation (spray coagulation) dries the surface tissue.
- Electrocoagulation stops bleeding, causing blood clotting in damaged vessels.
- Electrosection involves the dissection of tissues.
- Thermocoagulation is also called cauterization.
Cryosurgery
No wonder one of the potentially dangerous dermatological diseases is considered to be a bowenoid papulosis. Treatment often comes down to the procedure of cryosurgery, or freezing pathological neoplasms on the surface of the skin.
In order to remove lesions characteristic of dermatological disorders, the following cryogenic substances are used:
- liquid nitrogen (the most common method);
- dry ice from carbon dioxide (a bit outdated method);
- dimethyl ether and propane.
Cryosurgery is effective against the following diseases:
- bowenoid papulosis;
- actinic keratosis;
- viral warts;
- seborrheic keratosis.
Professional dermatologists sometimes prescribe freezing of small malignant neoplasms - for example, with Bowen's disease, but this approach does not always give positive results, and therefore careful monitoring of the patient's condition after the procedure is necessary.
Currently, freezing is the most common way to get rid of a variety of lesions on the surface of the skin. Cryosurgery is relatively cheap, safe and reliable. However, you must ensure that the diagnosis is correct. In no case should you freeze melanomas and any undiagnosed pigmented neoplasms that could potentially be melanomas.