The men behind the eponym--Abraham Buschke and Ludwig Lowenstein: giant condyloma (Buschke-Loewenstein)

In 1925 Abraham Buschke and Ludwig Loewenstein described a neoplasm of the penis (carcinomähnliche condylomata acuminata des penis), which, to them, bore resemblances to common condyloma acuminatum and squamous cell carcinoma, but it had histopathologic and clinical characteristics that differed from these 2 proliferations. Later Lauren V. Ackerman described a similar neoplasm of the oral mucosa that he termed "verrucous carcinoma." I have previously reviewed that neoplasm, now referred to as "oral verrucous carcinoma of Ackerman." Still later Aird and his colleagues described a unique neoplasm of the foot, "carcinoma cuniculatum." These 3 have been grouped generically as "verrucous carcinoma." Verrucous carcinomas occur at many sites including the female genitalia and the aerodigestive system. This report will synopsize the lives of Abraham Buschke and Ludwig Loewenstein, review their original articles, and mention the changing concepts over time concerning condylomata, particularly large condylomata. Some other reports of giant condyloma (verrucous carcinoma of the penis) will be discussed, emphasizing the histopathology of this neoplasm and its differentiation from "warty-like" carcinomas of the penis. Verrucous carcinoma of other sites and epithelioma (carcinoma) cuniculatum will not be discussed.