A Buschke-Löwenstein tumor is a benign, cauliflower-like mass that forms on or around your genitals or anus. The same strains of the HPV virus linked to genital warts cause it. Even though it’s not cancer, it can grow so big that it damages tissue. Sometimes, it transforms into cancer. Healthcare providers remove it with surgery.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
A Buschke-Löwenstein tumor is a rare, noncancerous growth that forms on your genitals or the area around your anus. It’s also called giant condyloma acuminatum. It mostly occurs in males and is linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Even though they’re not cancer, they can be locally aggressive. This means that they don’t spread, but as they grow, they can damage nearby tissue. In some cases, they may turn into cancer.
If you have this tumor, your healthcare provider will work to remove it safely. Afterward, they’ll monitor you closely for recurrence, as they often grow back. If it does, they’ll act fast to get rid of it.
The most obvious sign is a cauliflower-like growth on your genitals or anus. Although it’s sometimes called a “giant” condyloma acuminatum, it can come in all sizes. Studies show they can grow bigger than 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) in diameter. For reference, most oranges range in size from 2 to 4 inches in diameter.
As they grow, they can cause symptoms like:
Most grow slowly. It may take around three to 10 years for a tumor to form. But this depends on your health, too. If you have a weakened immune system (immunocompromised), the tumor can grow faster.
Low-risk strains of the human papillomavirus: HPV-6 or HPV-11 cause it. HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that can spread to the skin in and around the genitals through skin-to-skin contact.
Most low-risk types of HPV cause conditions that aren’t serious, like genital warts. High-risk types are more likely to cause serious conditions, like cervical cancer. A Buschke-Löwenstein tumor is an exception. Even though low-risk HPV causes it, it can grow large and cause serious health problems, so it needs treatment.
Advertisement
No. But the HPV infections that cause them can be transmitted through sexual contact.
But having an HPV infection doesn’t mean you’ll develop a tumor. Medical experts are researching why some people with HPV get this condition while others don’t. For now, experts know that people with HPV-6 or HPV-11 infections with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk. This includes people who:
These conditions can make it harder for your body to fight off viruses, like HPV.
Without treatment, these tumors can progress to squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. This is another reason why it’s important to see a healthcare provider if you think you might have one.
Early treatment can prevent damage from the tumor and reduce your cancer risk.
Your healthcare provider will do a physical exam to diagnose a Buschke-Löwenstein tumor. You may also need:
The main treatment for a Buschke-Löwenstein tumor is surgery. For especially large tumors, you may need chemotherapy or radiation therapy beforehand to shrink it.
The goal of surgery is to remove the entire tumor while protecting nearby structures that allow you to poop, pee and have sex. Depending on how much tissue they remove, you may need reconstructive surgery afterward.
Your healthcare provider may also prescribe immunotherapy drugs or creams, like imiquimod (Aldara®, Zyclara®). They can’t cure the condition. But they can help your immune system fight the HPV virus.
Always see a healthcare provider if you find new lumps or bumps that are changing. Many people with this condition delay seeing a provider because they’re embarrassed. But HPV is incredibly common. Providers know that HPV can cause growths in sensitive areas, and they’re used to treating them.
Seeing a provider ASAP can get rid of the tumor before it grows so big that you’ll need more extensive surgery.
Surgery gets rid of the tumor for most people. But it has a recurrence rate that’s over 60%. This means that tumors grow back in more than 6 out of 10 people.
Your healthcare provider will monitor you to check for signs the tumor has returned. If it does, they can provide treatment to get rid of it for good.
The best way to prevent it is to use the same safer sex practices to reduce your risk of contracting HPV. This may mean using condoms and limiting your number of sexual partners.
Advertisement
Another option is to get the HPV vaccine. It protects against the strains of HPV that cause it: HPV-6 and HPV-11.
Ask your healthcare provider if they think you’d benefit from this vaccine.
Most of us would prefer not to have anyone — including a healthcare provider — inspect our genitals. But if you have a Buschke-Löwenstein tumor, it’s essential for your provider to know about it. These masses aren’t cancer, but they can become cancerous without treatment. They can grow big enough to cause harm. Surgery to remove the tumor early on can keep this from happening. And close monitoring afterward can ensure you get the treatment you need if it grows back.
Advertisement
Sign up for our Health Essentials emails for expert guidance on nutrition, fitness, sleep, skin care and more.
Learn more about the Health Library and our editorial process.
Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.
Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.
Don’t ignore sexually transmitted infections. Cleveland Clinic experts will treat them confidentially and quickly in a judgment-free environment.
