Skip to main content

Syphilitic cervical lymphadenopathy

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology volume 260, pages 283–285 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Syphilis is well known as a great mimic, however it is not recognized as a cause of cervical lymphadenopathy. We report a case of a 21-year-old man who presented with marked unilateral cervical lymphadenopathy. He had no evidence of oropharyngeal chancres, skin or genital lesions. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) images showed multiple cervical lymphadenopathy, and serologic tests for syphilis were positive. Syphilis should still be a factor for consideration in the differential diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.

References

  1. Baarsma EA, Kazzaz B, Soei KI (1985) Secondary syphilis of the tonsils. J Laryngol Otol 99: 601–603

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Corstens FH, van der Meer JW (1999) Nuclear medicine's role in infection and inflammation. Lancet 354: 765–770

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Fiumara NJ, Berg M (1974) Primary syphilis in the oral cavity. Br J Vener Dis 50: 463–464

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Heller H, Fromowitz F, Fuhrer J (1992) Luetic cervical adenitis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. Arch Otolaryngol 118: 757–758

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kaji AV, Mohuchy T, Swartz JD (1997) Imaging of cervical lymphadenopathy. Semin Ultrasound CT MR 18: 220–249

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kleidermacher P, Vito KJ, Strome M (1998) Otolaryngologic manifestations of acquired syphilis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 119: 399–402

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Lukehart SA (2001) Syphilis. In: Braunwald E, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Longo DL, Jameson JL (eds) Harrison's principles of internal medicine, 15th edn. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 1044–1052

  8. McNulty JS, Fassett RL (1981) Syphilis: an otolaryngologic perspective. Laryngoscope 91: 889–905

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Shimizu T, Shinogi J, Majima Y, Sakakura Y (1989) Secondary syphilis of the tonsil. Arch Otorhinolaryngol 246: 117–120

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Yarington CTJ, Jensen OC (1967) Syphilis as a differential diagnosis of neck masses. Arch Otolaryngol 86: 219–221

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Drs. H. Kodama and H. Yamaya for their clinical assistance and Dr. T. Yokota (Department of Dermatology, Hokkaido University) for valuable suggestions.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Sapporo Medical University, School of Medicine, S-1W-16 Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8543, Japan

    J. Sato, H. Tsubota & T. Himi

Authors
  1. J. Sato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Tsubota
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T. Himi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Sato.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sato, J., Tsubota, H. & Himi, T. Syphilitic cervical lymphadenopathy. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 260, 283–285 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-002-0559-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-002-0559-6

Keywords

  • Syphilis
  • Syphilitic cervical lymphadenopathy
  • Magnetic resonance imaging