Condylomata gigantea Buschke-Löwenstein

Buschke u. Löwenstein 1925

Buschke-Löwenstein tumour, verrucous carcinoma of the genital region, giant condyloma, condyloma acuminatum giganteum; carcinoma verrucosum.

Giant form of condylomata acuminata, which today is already counted as a carcinoma. Both the anal region and the genital region can be affected.

More common in men than in women.

Condylomata gigantea are mostly triggered by HPV 6, 11 and 56.

Massive exophytic growing, skin-coloured, cauliflower-like tumours.

Clinical diagnosis.

Genitoanal area.

The exophytic tissue masses tend to interfere with sexual intercourse and defecation.

Transformation into spinocellular carcinoma occurs.

Patients often do not know that condoms only protect the areas of the skin from infections that are also covered by them.

Recurrences possible. Close follow-up care.

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Operative removal with follow-up treatment with imiquimod:

3x weekly for 12 weeks
off-label use:
- Application: 5x/week for several weeks, maximum 16 weeks
- Necessary before ablation of the wart surface
- NWN: redness, itching, burning, erosion of the skin. Patients must be informed about this before the start of therapy

In individual cases, the monotherapy of Imiquimod cream and CO² laser has been described.

Grassegger A, Hopfl R, Hussl H, Wicke K, Fritsch P. Buschke—Loewenstein tumour infiltrating pelvic organs. Br J Dermatol 1994;130:221-5.
Qian G, Yu H. Giant condyloma acuminata of Buschke-Lowenstein: successful treatment mainly by an innovative surgical method. Dermatologic Therapy 2013:n/a-n/a.
Schwartz RA. Buschke-Loewenstein tumor: Verrucous carcinoma of the penis. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 1990;23:723-7.

Differential diagnoses