Intra-Epidermal Carcinoma (IEC)

Intra-Epidermal Carcinoma (Bowen’s Disease/Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Situ)

An intra-epidermal carcinoma (IEC) is a superficial skin cancer that can appear unexpectedly or may originate from a pre-existing actinic keratosis. An IEC appears most commonly as a slow-growing, persistent red scaly patch in sun-exposed sites. People at increased risk of this skin cancer include older patients, fairer skin types, people whose immune systems are impaired by illness or medication. Variants of these lesions are seen in certain sites of the body, including genital Bowenoid Papulosis or Erythroplasia of Queyrat. Depending on the type, some of these lesions may have a higher risk of progressing to Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Treatment to remove these malignant lesions is by either curette and cautery (C&C), topical treatments, photodynamic therapy (PDT), wide local excision (WLE) or Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS).