Histopathological Observation of Neoplastic Cells Infiltration into the Adnexal Epithelia in Bowen’s Disease

Abstract

We observed infiltrations of neoplastic cells into the adnexal epithelia of 164 cases of Bowen’s disease including 53 males and 111 females who were diagnosed histopathologically at the Sapporo Institute for Dermatopathology. The mean age at tumor resection was 73.7 years. In 61 out of 164 cases (37.2%), the neoplastic cells of Bowen’s disease were recognized in the epithelia of hair follicules. In 74 cases (45.1%), they were present in the epithelia of eccrine ducts. Therefore, the neoplastic cells of Bowen’s disease were noticed in the epithelia of hair follicules and/or eccrine ducts in 91 out of 164 cases (55.5%). Invasions of neoplastic cells into the epithelia of eccrine ducts were more frequently observed in males, but those into the hair follicles were more frequent in females. Infiltrations of tumor cells of Bowen’s disease into adnexal epithelia were seen in 43.8% of the patients with lesions of the upper extremities, in 57.8% with lesions of the trunk, in 63.6% with lesions of the genitalia, and 54.8% with lesions of the lower extremities. Invasions of tumor cells of Bowen’s disease into the epithelia of hair follicles were observed in 31.3% of the patients with lesions of the upper extremities, in 35.9% with lesions of the trunk, in 45.5% with lesions of the genitalia and 30.1% with lesions of the lower extremities, while those into the epithelia of eccrine ducts were seen in 31.3% with lesions of the upper extremities, in 46.9% with lesions of the trunk, in 36.4% with lesions of the genitalia, and 47.9% with lesions of the lower extremities. Infiltrations of neoplastic cells were less frequently observed in the cases arising on upper extremities, and the most frequently seen were those on genitalia. In female patients, invasions were more frequently seen in the cases arising on genitalia, although they were still less frequently observed in those on extremities. In male patients, infiltrations were more frequently seen in those on lower extremities, and less frequently observed in those on upper extremities and genitalia. In the histopathological diagnosis and treatment of Bowen’s disease, it is important that neoplasic cells frequently infiltrate into adnexal epithelia.