Syphilitic Lymphadenopathy

• Published in: JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association Vol. 239; no. 6; p. 495
• Main Authors: Nayeem, Syed A, Bernhardt, Bernard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Medical Association 06-02-1978
• Subjects: Adolescent; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Lymphatic Diseases - diagnosis; Male; Syphilis - diagnosis; Syphilis - epidemiology; United States; United States
• ISSN: 0098-7484; 1538-3598
• DOI: 10.1001/jama.1978.03280330031008

To the Editor. —Patients with generalized lymphadenopathy are frequently considered to have lymphoreticular neoplasms. Since the serologic test for syphilis is no longer mandatory, syphilitic lymphadenopathy may be missed when the lymph node biopsy specimen shows nonspecific reactive hyperplasia. The following case is illustrative.Report of a Case. —An 18-year-old man was admitted to the New Rochelle Hospital Medical Center for generalized painless lymphadenopathy of one month's duration. He had a sore throat approximately ten days prior to the lymph node enlargement. There was no history of drug ingestion, allergies, or exposure to venereal disease.Physical examination showed anterior cervical, posterior cervical, axillary, and inguinal nodes that were firm, mobile, nontender and that measured 1 to 3 cm in diameter. The spleen and liver were not palpable. There was mild, generalized acne. The remaining results of the physical examination were normal. The laboratory data showed an SGOT level