Malignant transformation of condyloma acuminatum. A light microscopic and ultrastructural study

Three cases of condyloma acuminatum with malignant transformation, and ultrastructural details of one, are reported. Carcinoma developed wim unusual rapidity in the sessile papillomas. Aggregates of uniform, spherical, 45–50-millimicron particles, suggestive of papova viruses, were detected in the nuclei of a few cells in one benign condyloma. Similar particles were not found in the condyloma showing malignant transformation from the same patient. In the neoplastic epithelium there were peculiar multinucleated, syncytial giant cells. Ultrastructurally, the nuclei of the giant cells often manifested ring-shaped nucleoli, characteristic of resting cells, which may not contribute to the further growth of the neoplasm.