[Post syphilitic oro-nasal communication].
BACKGROUND
Oro-nasal communication occurs due to a lack of bone and mucous membranes between the oral cavity and the nasal fossae, rarely subsequent to tertiary syphilis.


METHODS
A 27 year-old woman with a history of an untreated genital chancre which developed 7 years earlier, presented hard palate necrosis surrounded with granulation tissue. Syphilitic gum of the hard palate was diagnosed. After antibiotic treatment, the palatine lesion healed with persistence of an oro-nasal fistula. Physical examination of the oral cavity demonstrated median oro-nasal communication of the hard palate measuring 0,5 cm in diameter. HIV and syphilitic serologies were negative. The treatment consisted in surgical closure of the oro-nasal communication by the refection of nasal and oral plans. The follow-up was good.


CONCLUSIONS
Oro-nasal communication due to syphilis is exceptional, of easy diagnosis and generally needs surgical treatment.
Benazzou
S
S
Service de Chirurgie Maxillo-faciale et d'ORL, Hôpital des Spécialités, CHU Avicenne, Rabat, Maroc. benazzou.salma@menara.ma
Boulaadas
M
M
El Kohen
A
A
Essakelli
L
L
Kzadri
M
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000473:pathology*; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016155:Oral Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000473:pathology; D016156:Respiratory Tract Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications*