To highlight the importance of considering syphilis in the differential diagnosis of lesions mimicking malignancy, particularly in cases of tertiary syphilis, due to the potential for misdiagnosis.
Key Findings:
The patient presented with cervical lymphadenopathy, constitutional symptoms, and testicular involvement, initially misdiagnosed as malignancy.
Histopathological analysis confirmed tertiary syphilis with abundant spirochaetes in liver tissue and sparse organisms in testicular tissue, highlighting the diagnostic challenge.
Initial misdiagnosis as malignancy due to the presentation of gummata-like lesions, emphasizing the need for awareness.
Interpretation:
Tertiary syphilis can mimic malignant tumors, leading to diagnostic challenges; awareness of this possibility is crucial for timely and accurate diagnosis to prevent mismanagement.
Limitations:
Case report nature limits generalizability and may not represent broader patient populations.
Potential for selection bias in literature review, which could affect the reliability of findings.
Conclusion:
Syphilis should be included in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with lesions that mimic malignancy, especially in the context of systemic symptoms, to ensure timely and appropriate treatment.
by Tobias R. Dashi, Sebastian Boeltz, Kristina Schilling, Olaf Conrad, Shahed Shafaei, Eva L. Balbach, Franziska Schmid, Barbara Nuebel, Abbas Agaimy, Jochen Wacker, Giuseppe Valenza, Georg Schett, Thomas Harrer
