Oropharyngeal Syphilis: Imaging and Pathologic Findings in Two Patients

Head Neck Pathol. 2017 Sep;11(3):399-403. doi: 10.1007/s12105-016-0758-x. Epub 2016 Oct 3.

Abstract

Syphilis is a widespread infection with increasing frequency in developed countries, especially among men who have sex with men. We present two cases of oropharyngeal syphilis in two middle-aged men who presented with a painless tonsillar ulcer and progressive enlargement of cervical lymph nodes suspected of being a tonsillar tumour. A pathologic analysis of the ulcer led to an accurate diagnosis. We review the imaging and pathologic findings to emphasize the importance of taking syphilis into account in the differential diagnosis.

Keywords: Cervical lymph node; Syphilis; Tonsillar tumour.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Larynx / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth / pathology*
  • Syphilis / pathology*

Supplementary concepts

  • Syphilis, primary