title: Syphilitic aneurysm of the ascending aorta.
abstract: Syphilitic aortic aneurysm is a rare occurrence in the antibiotic era, making the diagnose assumption even more infrequent. Nonetheless, this pathology can appear and should be suspected in patients with aortic aneurysm. We report a case of a 57-year old patient who presents with neurosyphilis and, in the following study, a large ascending aorta aneurysm is identified. The authors discuss the diagnostic challenge, the epidemiologic concerns, surgical indication and treatment and subsequent follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia e Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. nspaulo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Paulo
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cascarejo
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vouga
mesh_terms: D000785:Aneurysm, Infected / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013589:Syphilis, Cardiovascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014528:Uricosuric Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014528:Uricosuric Agents