Section : History & Terminology

Squamous Cell carcinoma in Situ: who was Bowen ?

  • Squamous cell carcinoma in situ was described in 1912 as a precancerous dermatosis by Dr John Templeton Bowen (1857-1940)
    • He was an American Dermatologist graduated from Harvard and was a Professor of Dermatology. He trained abroad in Germany and Austria.
    • Descriptions from him also include Bowenoid papulosis
  • On a personal basis, he was shy and became removed from social life in his later years.

Source of information: Crissey JT el al. Dermatology and Dermatologists (2002). Parthenon Publishing