title: Secondary syphilis presenting as a generalized lymphadenopathy: clinical mimicry of malignant lymphoma.
abstract: The diagnosis of syphilis remains challenging. The absence of classical features of the disease, such as the rash of secondary syphilis or genital lesion, may pose diagnostic difficulties. In this article, we report a case of secondary syphilis in which the clinical syndrome and pattern of fluorodeoxyglucose uptake mimicked malignant lymphoma. This case highlights the importance of thorough history taking including sexual contact. Clinicians should be alert for syphilis-underlying unexplained lymphadenopathy, even in the absence of typical rash or genital lesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, University of Dongguk College of Medicine, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jung Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ji Hyeon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: Hee Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Jeong Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: Do Yeun
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*