Abstract
Anorectal syphilis, one of the great masqueraders in medicine, can be difficult to diagnose not only because of its variable symptoms but also because it is hard to think of unless a detailed history about sexual preferences and practices, including homosexuality, has been gathered. With increasing acceptance of sexual activity in our culture, despite moral and religious issues, various forms of sex have led to many different clinical conditions of sexually transmitted diseases. In this report, we describe a rare case of primary anorectal syphilis with clinical, endoscopic and histologic features that was misdiagnosed as Crohn’s disease.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hamlyn E, Taylor C. Sexually transmitted proctitis. Postgrad Med J. 2006;82:733–6.
Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s principles and practice of infectious diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier; 2009.
Rompalo AM. Diagnosis and treatment of sexually acquired proctitis and proctocolitis: an update. Clin Infect Dis. 1999;28(Suppl 1):S84–90.
Savage EJ, Hughes G, Ison C, Lowndes CM. Syphilis and gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men: a European overview. Euro Surveill. 2009;14.
Elford J, Bolding G, Davis M, Sherr L, Hart G. Trends in sexual behaviour among London homosexual men 1998–2003: implications for HIV prevention and sexual health promotion. Sex Transm Infect. 2004;80:451–4.
Bassi O, Cosa G, Colavolpe A, Argentieri R. Primary syphilis of the rectum–endoscopic and clinical features. Report of a case. Dis Colon Rectum. 1991;34:1024–6.
Cha JM, Choi SI, Lee JI. Rectal syphilis mimicking rectal cancer. Yonsei Med J. 2010;51:276–8.
James WD, Berger TG, Elston DM, Odom RB. Andrews’ diseases of the skin: clinical dermatology. 10th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2006.
Smacchia C, Parolin A, Di Perri G, Vento S, Concia E. Syphilis in prostitutes from Eastern Europe. Lancet. 1998;351:572.
Akturk AS, Bilen N, Demirsoy EO, Kiran R. The increase rates of syphilis in Turkey in the beginning of the third millennium. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2009;23:1209–10.
Akdamar K, Martin RJ, Ichinose H. Syphilitic proctitis. Am J Dig Dis. 1977;22:701–4.
Quinn TC, Lukehart SA, Goodell S, Mkrtichian E, Schuffler MD, Holmes KK. Rectal mass caused by Treponema pallidum: confirmation by immunofluorescent staining. Gastroenterology. 1982;82:135–9.
Song SH, Jang I, Kim BS, Kim ET, Woo SH, Park MJ, et al. A case of primary syphilis in the rectum. J Korean Med Sci. 2005;20:886–7.
Conflict of interest
None.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Yilmaz, M., Memisoglu, R., Aydin, S. et al. Anorectal syphilis mimicking Crohn’s disease. J Infect Chemother 17, 713–715 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10156-011-0234-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10156-011-0234-1