National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Buschke Lowenstein tumor


Other Names:
Giant condyloma acuminatum involving the prepuce and glans penis; Giant condyloma of Buschke and Löwenstein; GCBL
Categories:
Buschke Lowenstein tumor is a tumor that most commonly occurs near the penis or anus.  This tumor often looks like a large genital wart; it tends to grow slowly, but can sometimes grow very large and spread into surrounding tissues.  These tumors rarely spread to other parts of the body.[1][2]  Treatment of these tumors begins with removal by surgery.  Chemotherapy and radiation therapy have also been shown to be effective treatments for this tumor type.[3]
Last updated: 5/4/2011

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Buschke Lowenstein tumor. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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  • Can any doctor cure Buschke Lowenstein tumor?  Are all doctors familiar with this condition? See answer


  1. Penile Cancer. American Cancer Society. 2010; http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/PenileCancer/DetailedGuide/penile-cancer-what-is-penile-cancer. Accessed 1/24/2011.
  2. Kauffman CL, Alexandrescu DT. Giant Condylomata Acuminata of Buschke and Lowenstein. eMedicine. 2009; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1132178-overview. Accessed 1/24/2011.
  3. Gholam P, Enk A, and Hartschuh Q. Successful surgical management of giant condyloma acuminatum (Buschke-Löwenstein tumor) in the genitoanal region: a case report and evaluation of current therapies. Dermatology. 2009; 218:56-59. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18936533. Accessed 5/3/2011.