[Verrucous carcinoma of the penis]

Malignant tumors of the penis are rare, and constitute only 1% of all tumors in males. The disease is more common in the black population of the USA due to genetic links and the rarity of circumcision. Penile carcinoma is extremely rare in Israel, only 10 cases having been reported during a period of 20 years. Verrucous carcinoma, often called giant condyloma acuminata, constitutes a subgroup of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. The first description was by Buschke in 1925, and was followed by that of Loewenstein in 1939. The tumor is usually limited to the penile glans and does not invade lymph nodes. We present a 44-year-old Arab with verrucous carcinoma treated by partial amputation of the penis. He had been circumcised 11 years previously. During 18 months of follow-up there was no recurrence.