Background: In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women, Bowen's disease may be difficult to treat successfully with surgery alone. Imiquimod cream, effective in treating Bowen's disease in healthy women, may be a useful postsurgical treatment in immunocompromised women.
Cases: Two HIV-infected women had both Bowen's disease and severe cervical dysplasia. In both cases, Bowen's disease, but not cervical dysplasia, recurred after surgical treatment. When treated with topical 5% imiquimod cream twice weekly for 4 months, 70-80% reduction in lesions were observed in both patients. Follow-up biopsies of remaining lesions were vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia 1.
Conclusion: Imiquimod cream, in combination with surgical treatment, may be an appropriate strategy for treatment of Bowen's disease in HIV-infected and other immunocompromised women.