Neurosyphilitic gumma in a homosexual man with HIV infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction.
The brain gumma is a rare manifestation of the tertiary stage of syphilis. A case of neurosyphilitic gumma was confirmed by the Treponema pallidum polymerase chain reaction in a 46-year-old HIV-positive homosexual man. The patient presented with a severe headache and was hospitalized. A computed tomography scan was performed which revealed a left frontal lobe mass. Lymphoma was suspected. However, infectious disease diagnostics were performed on the cerebrospinal fluid that included investigations for syphilis and other microbiological agents such as Toxoplasma gondii. This revealed a reactive venereal disease research laboratory test, a reactive syphilis rapid plasma reagin and a reactive T. pallidum particle agglutination test. The patient was treated for syphilis till complete recovery.
Morshed
Muhammad G
MG
Laboratory Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, USA. muhammad.morshed@bccdc.ca .
Lee
Min-Kuang
MK
Maguire
John
J
Zwimpfer
Thomas
T
Willoughby
Brian
B
Clement
Jason
J
Crawford
Richard I
RI
Barberie
Jay
J
Gul
Shahid
S
Jones
Hugh
H
D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015497:HIV-1; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*