Pulmonary Involvement in Secondary Syphilis
Authors
robin.dhote@aphp.fr
Keywords
Syphilis, pulmonary nodule, bronchial fibroscopy, Treponema pallidumAbstract
In secondary syphilis, Treponema pallidum can spread to the lungs. A new case is described of a patient with multiple excavated subpleural pulmonary nodules, a rare localization of secondary syphilis. Despite the numerous pulmonary samples analysed in the literature, T. pallidum is rarely visualised directly on bronchial fibroscopy or biopsy. The diagnosis of secondary syphilis is suspected from historical and physical findings and confirmed by high values obtained from non-treponemal tests.
References
- Ohta A, Furusyo N, Kishihara Y, Eiraku K, Murata M, Kainuma M, et al. Secondary syphilis with pulmonary involvement. Intern Med 2018;57:121–126.
- Zaharopoulos P, Wong J. Cytologic diagnosis of syphilitic pleuritis: a case report. Diagn Cytopathol 1997;16:35–38.
- Elzouki AN, Al-Kawaaz M, Tafesh Z. Secondary syphilis with pleural effusion: case report and literature review. Case Rep Infect Dis 2012;2012:409896.
- David G, Perpoint T, Boibieux A, Pialat JB, Salord H, Devouassoux M, et al. Secondary pulmonary syphilis: report of a likely case and literature review. Clin Infect Dis 2006;42:e11–15.
- Jeny F, Fargelat A, Laurent-Roussel S, Nault JC, Dupin N, Grange P, et al. Pulmonary consolidations due to secondary syphilis with positive bronchial washing immunohistochemistry. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2016;193:1061–1062.
- Soares Souza Jr A, Soares Souza A, Zanetti G, Marchiori E. A skin rash with multiple pulmonary nodules. Eur Respir Rev 2015;24:682–683.
- Coleman DL, McPhee SJ, Ross TF, Naughton JL. Secondary syphilis with pulmonary involvement. West J Med 1983;138:875–878.