Multiple Plaques on the Face and Neck of a Middle-aged man. Diagnosis: Secondary Syphilis

• Published in: Ear, nose, & throat journal Vol. 81; no. 1; pp. 55 - 56
• Main Authors: Erisir, Ferhat, Senocak, Dogan, Inci, Ender, Guclu, Ender
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.01.2002; Medquest Communications; Sage Publications, Inc; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Amoxicillin - administration & dosage; Arm; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the genital system; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy, Needle; Diagnosis, Differential; Ent and stomatologic bacterial diseases; Face; Facial Dermatoses - diagnosis; Follow-Up Studies; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infection; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Middle Aged; Physiological aspects; Risk Assessment; Skin Diseases, Papulosquamous - diagnosis; Syphilis; Syphilis Serodiagnosis; Syphilis, Cutaneous - diagnosis; Syphilis, Cutaneous - drug therapy; Treatment Outcome; United States; Skin disease; Male; Serology; Penicillin derivatives; Spirochaetosis; Syphilis; ENT disease; Adult; Neck; Diagnosis; Face; Human; Secondary; β-Lactams; Treponematosis; Infection; Case study; Symptomatology; Antibiotic; Chemotherapy; Sexually transmitted disease; Treatment; Biopsy; Amoxicillin; Bacteriosis; Clinical investigation; Skin; Antibacterial agent
• ISSN: 0145-5613; 1942-7522
• DOI: 10.1177/014556130208100117

Syphilis is an unusual diagnosis in an ENT practice. We evaluated a 55-year-old man who had generalized plaques on his face, neck, and upper extremities. Analysis of skin biopsy and serology specimens revealed that the patient had secondary syphilis. He responded rapidly to treatment. The purpose of this article is to remind otolaryngologists of the signs and symptoms of syphilis so that it can be recognized and treated in a timely fashion.