Tertiary hepatic syphilis. A treatable cause of multinodular liver

Dig Dis Sci. 1997 Feb;42(2):447-50. doi: 10.1023/a:1018855011180.

Abstract

Although the incidence of syphilis is increasing, liver involvement in tertiary syphilis remains exceptional. We report a case of tertiary syphilis revealed by liver localization. The clinical picture was misleading, mimicking multinodular hepatic metastasis. The final diagnosis was suspected following a fine-needle ultrasound-guided biopsy of a liver nodule showing granulomas as well as acellular necrosis and confirmed by positive serum syphilitic reactions and the presence of spirochetes in the liver. The outcome was uneventful following antibiotic treatment. It is important to be aware of the misleading picture of the disease, which has a favorable prognosis provided that simple treatment is rapidly initiated.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Liver Diseases / drug therapy
  • Liver Diseases / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Syphilis / diagnosis*
  • Syphilis / drug therapy
  • Syphilis / pathology