Condylomatous tumours of vulva, vagina, and penis. Relation between histological appearance and age.

Among 237 cases of condyloma diagnosed in Uganda between 1964 and 1975 seven types of lesions were defined. Three of these were found within a wide age range in both young and elderly people, namely, the common (49.4%) and the flat (2.0%) condyloma acuminatum, and condyloma acuminatum of irregular outline (13.5%). Four variants, on the other hand, fell into different age groups. Condyloma acuminatum, showing marked cell death (5.1%) and observed exclusively among girls in the first decade of life, displayed numerous aciophil bodies, presumably reflecting single cell necroses. Condylomata acuminata showing marked acanthosis (16.9%) were found in patients between 12 and 30 years, dysplastic condylomata acuminata (5.9%) between 20 and 62 years, and proliferative (giant) condylomata acuminata (7.2%) between 31 and 80 years of age. In the latter two groups of lesions, the inflammatory stromal infiltrate was more prominent, but cytoplasmic vacuolation, often believed to be a sign of viral infection, was seen less frequently than in the remaining types. In young people, the features seen resemble, therefore, a cytocidal and/or vacuolating viral infection, whereas the dysplastic and proliferative changes observed in older patients are compatible with malignant transformation being under way.