HPV-16-positive anal and penile carcinomas in a young man - Anogenital 'field effect' in the immunosuppressed male?

This report presents the unusual occurrence of metachronous perianal and penile carcinomas in a young, imntunosuppressed man. Both anogenital cancers were HPV-16-DNA-positive by the polymerase chain reaction. DNA in situ hybridization analysis of the penile carcinoma revealed HPV-16 in most neoplastic cells. HPV-16 appears to have played a central role in both anogenital cancers in this patient, suggesting that, like in immunologically susceptible women, a carcinogenic 'field effect' may exist in the anogenital area of the immunosuppressed male.