A case report of a male with distinctive cervical lymphadenopathy of unknown aetiology

Overview

Clinical findings of secondary syphilis usually appear within nine weeks after spirochete Treponema pallidum infection with cutaneous eruption due to bacterial spread into the bloodstream. At that time the healing primary chancre with regional lymphadenopathy may remain present. In 80 % of cases skin and mucous membranes are involved. Dark-field microscopy detects Treponema in these lesions and serology screening is positive.

Authors present a case of 31-years old patient with distinctive cervical lymphadenopathy of unknown aetiology and clinical manifestation resembling lymphoma. Serology tests were finally done after many different investigations.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease with multiple clinical presentations; therefore it may be troublesome to establish the diagnosis. Since the incidence of syphilis has been increasing in the last years, it should be considered in differential diagnostic workup. Authors suggest that syphilis serology screening should be indicated more frequently.

Key words:
secondary syphilis, specific lymphadenitis, syphilitic angina, syphilitic roseola.