Dermatoscopy of pigmented Bowen's disease

Background: Pigmented Bowen's disease is not well characterized.

Objective: To characterize the clinical and dermatoscopic appearance of pigmented Bowen's disease.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 52 consecutive cases of pigmented Bowen's disease.

Results: Of 951 histopathologically verified cases of Bowen's disease that underwent biopsy during the study period, 52 (5.5%) were pigmented. Dermatoscopically pigmented Bowen's disease is typified by a pattern of dots and/or structureless zones. In 21.2% (n=11), we observed brown or gray dots arranged in a linear fashion. Vessels were identified in 67.3% of lesions with a predomination of coiled vessels. A linear arrangement of vessels was seen in 11.5%.

Limitations: Conclusions are limited by the fact that this was a retrospective, uncontrolled study.

Conclusions: Pigmented Bowen's disease has a characteristic dermatoscopic pattern. Linear arrangement of brown and/or gray dots and/or coiled vessels is a specific clue to pigmented Bowen's disease.