Condyloma. A new epidemic

Abstract

Condyloma acuminatum of the anus is an increasingly frequent disease that may require a combination of therapies. Large bulky lesions can be reduced with topical freezing, cautery, or the scapel. Topical chemotherapy with podophyllum resin can be supplemented with cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Many of these drugs probably act, at least in part, by stimulating a strong local cellular immune reaction. Dinitrochlorobenzene was used to eradicate lesions that had been resistant to treatment with podophyllum resin. 5-Flourouracil was used as a control. All 23 patients studied were initially skin tested with both agents and randomized to either treatment group. All but one of the dinitrochlorobenzene-treated patients had excellent regressions. Immunotherapeutic agents, such as dinitrochlorobenzene, warrant further study as adjuvant therapeutic agents for this disease.