Variation in the appearance of giant condyloma in an Ungandan series of cases of carcinoma of the penis.

Abstract

Whole mount sections were made from all amputation specimen of patients treated for carcinoma of the penis in Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda, during a 21-month period in 1968-1970. Among a total of 55 cases four tumors were found which were large, but histologically showed low invasiveness suggestive of absence of metastatic spread. There were two giant condylomas, and two giant condylomas showing possible microinvasion. Two further cases showed a small squamous cell carcinoma together with a giant condyloma in the remainder of tumor. The most chracteristic feature was an orderly, well-circumscribed, expansive downgrowth, leaving little stroma to be seen between the epithelial masses to tumor. Within these limits, however, the spectrum of growth pattern, differentiation, and malignant change was very wide and much more varied than in tumors recorded form Western countries. This should be remembered when a presumptive diagnosis of the condition is to be made on small routine biopsies. Additional changes showing marked similarities to condylomata acuminata were often seen in superficial portions of tumor. This transition in histological picture within one tumor favors the view that giant condyloma is an intermediate lesion in the development of cancer in condylomata acuminata.