Papulonodular secondary syphilis: a rare clinic presentation confirmed by serologic and histologic exams

Abstract

Abstract: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum and divided into three stages according to the duration of the disease: primary, secondary and tertiary. Secondary syphilis has diverse clinical presentations, such as papular-nodular lesions. This presentation is rare, with 15 cases reported in the literature over the past 20 years. We report a case of secondary syphilis with papular-nodular lesions in a healthy 63-year-old patient, who has presented treponema in immunohistochemical examination of the skin lesions.

Keywords

• Histology
• Syphilis
• Syphilis, cutaneous
• Treponema
• Treponemal infections
• Treponema pallidum