Giant condyloma of Buschke-Loewenstein in association with erythroderma

The Buschke-Loewenstein tumour is regarded as a type of verrucous carcinoma occurring on anogenital mucosal surfaces. The tumour is locally invasive but displays a benign cytology and rarely metastasizes. It is associated with human papillomavirus types 6 and 11. We describe a case of Buschke-Loewenstein tumour occurring in a 61-year-old man which behaved in a locally aggressive manner and was associated with human papillomavirus type 16 and erythroderma which proved resistant to treatment. The patient refused surgery and therapy with interferon alpha was ineffective. Chemotherapy with systemic cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil produced a partial response before the patient succumbed from gram-negative septicaemia.