Patient with primary tonsillar and gastric syphilis

Abstract

AbstractA male patient with syphilitic lesions in the tonsil and stomach is presented. The patient was infected while practising oral sex with heterosexual friends. He complained of nausea and snoring; his left tonsil was enlarged. Spirochetes were detected in a smear preparation from the left tonsil. As a gastric lesion, initially believed to be cancer, appeared to result from spirochete ingestion, the case is considered to represent primary syphilis. After antibiotic therapy with ampicillin, the left tonsil returned to normal size and gastric changes were no longer evident endoscopically. Gastroscopy should be considered if syphilis of the tonsil is observed, particularly when gastrointestinal symptoms are present. Both the oral and the gastric lesion can be mistaken for malignant neoplasm.