Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Syphilis CT
Introduction
Overview
Overview
CT scan is not diagnostic of syphilis. However, non-specific CT findings may demonstrate complications of syphilis including pulmonary, cardiac, neurological, gastrointestinal, and bone findings.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
CT
CT
On CT scan, syphilis may present with various non-specific findings including:
Pulmonary
- Solitary or multiple pulmonary nodules with or without infiltrates (mimicking pulmonary metastasis)[1]
- Round, well-defined opacities[1][7]
- Pleural effusion[1]
Cardiac
- Double ring appearance of the aortic wall with a hyperdense outer rim and hypodense inner rim[2][3]
- Thickening or calcification appearing as contrast enhancement of aortic wall[2][3]
Neurological
- Areas of decreased density suggesting cerebral infarction[8][9]
- Syphilitic gumma appear hypodense with precontrast
- Focal or diffuse extraaxial enhancement
- Non-specific white matter lesions
Bone
- Lytic bone lesions in tibia, acromion, ribs, and sacroiliac joint[4]
- Multiple lytic lesions in the skull in early syphilis[5]
Gastrointestinal
- Irregular rectal wall thickening (mimicking rectal carcinoma)[6]
- Multiple peri-rectal lymph node enlargement (mimicking rectal carcinoma)[6]
Others
- Perivascular fluid collection
- Periaortic lymph node enlargement
References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kim HJ, Seon HJ, Shin HH, Choi YD (2011). “Case report: Pulmonary syphilis mimicking pulmonary hematogenous metastases on chest CT and integrated PET/CT”. Indian J Radiol Imaging. 21 (1): 34–7. doi:10.4103/0971-3026.76052. PMC 3056368. PMID 21431031.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kimura F, Satoh H, Sakai F, Nishii N, Tohda J, Fujimura M; et al. (2004). “Computed tomographic findings of syphilitic aortitis”. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 27 (2): 179–81. PMID 15259819.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Agarwal PP, Chughtai A, Matzinger FR, Kazerooni EA (2009). “Multidetector CT of thoracic aortic aneurysms”. Radiographics. 29 (2): 537–52. doi:10.1148/rg.292075080. PMID 19325064.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bezalely S, Jacob G, Flusser G, Ablin J (2014). “Syphilis: an unusual manifestation?”. BMJ Case Rep. 2014. doi:10.1136/bcr-2014-204871. PMC 4170241. PMID 25239989.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Huang I, Leach JL, Fichtenbaum CJ, Narayan RK (2007). “Osteomyelitis of the skull in early-acquired syphilis: evaluation by MR imaging and CT”. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 28 (2): 307–8. PMID 17297001.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Cha JM, Choi SI, Lee JI (2010). “Rectal syphilis mimicking rectal cancer”. Yonsei Med J. 51 (2): 276–8. doi:10.3349/ymj.2010.51.2.276. PMC 2824876. PMID 20191023.
- ↑ David G, Perpoint T, Boibieux A, Pialat JB, Salord H, Devouassoux M; et al. (2006). “Secondary pulmonary syphilis: report of a likely case and literature review”. Clin Infect Dis. 42 (3): e11–5. doi:10.1086/499104. PMID 16392072.
- ↑ Peng F, Hu X, Zhong X, Wei Q, Jiang Y, Bao J; et al. (2008). “CT and MR findings in HIV-negative neurosyphilis”. Eur J Radiol. 66 (1): 1–6. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2007.05.018. PMID 17628376.
- ↑ Brightbill TC, Ihmeidan IH, Post MJ, Berger JR, Katz DA (1995). “Neurosyphilis in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients: neuroimaging findings”. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 16 (4): 703–11. PMID 7611026.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: ; Aysha Anwar, M.B.B.S[2]; Vishal Devarkonda, M.B.B.S[3]; Tarek Nafee, M.D. [4]; Nate Michalak, B.A.