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Sinagra E, Macaione I, Stella M, Shahini E, Maida M, Pompei G, Rossi F, Conoscenti G, Alloro R, Di Ganci S, Ricotta C, Testai S, Marasà M, Scarpulla G, Rizzo AG, Raimondo D. Gastric Syphilis Presenting as a Nodal Inflammatory Pseudotumor Mimicking a Neoplasm: Don’t Forget the Treponema! Case Report and Scoping Review of the Literature of the Last 65 Years. GASTROENTEROLOGY INSIGHTS 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/gastroent14020014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the fact that gastric syphilis is considered rare, it is reported as a type of organic involvement that is present in a large proportion of secondary syphilis cases, even though gastritis presenting with symptoms is extremely rare. Clinical, radiological, and endoscopic findings are non-specific and frequently mimic the symptoms of gastric adenocarcinoma or lymphoma, making diagnosis difficult. Immunostaining is required for this diagnosis. We would like to emphasize the importance of being suspicious of GS when a gastric mass exhibits the histologic features of an inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT), as previously reported for nodal IPT caused by luetic infection. We described a 56-year-old man who presented to the oncology department with a 3-month history of anorexia, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss, as well as an initial radiological and endoscopic suspicion of gastric adenocarcinoma, in which immune staining allowed us to diagnose GS. In addition, we conducted an updated scoping review of the scientific literature to show the clinical, laboratory, and therapeutic findings in GS patients over the last 65 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Sinagra
- Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione Istituto Gemelli–G. Giglio, Contrada Pietra Pollastra Pisciotto, 90015 Cefalù, Italy
| | - Ina Macaione
- Mini-Invasivecolorectal & Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Fondazione Istituto Gemelli–G. Giglio, Contrada Pietra Pollastra Pisciotto, 90015 Cefalù, Italy
| | - Mario Stella
- Pathology Unit, Az. Osp. Ospedali Riuniti “Villa Sofia-Cervello”, Via Trabucco 180, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - Endrit Shahini
- Gastroenterology Unit, National Institute of Gastroenterology-IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
| | - Marcello Maida
- Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, S. Elia-Raimondi Hospital, 93100 Caltanissetta, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Pompei
- Pathology Unit, Sant’Antonio Abate Hospital, Via Cosenza 82, 91016 Casa Santa, Italy
- Pathology Unit, Fondazione Istituto Gemelli–G. Giglio, Contrada Pietra Pollastra Pisciotto, 90015 Cefalù, Italy
| | - Francesca Rossi
- Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione Istituto Gemelli–G. Giglio, Contrada Pietra Pollastra Pisciotto, 90015 Cefalù, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Conoscenti
- Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione Istituto Gemelli–G. Giglio, Contrada Pietra Pollastra Pisciotto, 90015 Cefalù, Italy
| | - Rita Alloro
- Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione Istituto Gemelli–G. Giglio, Contrada Pietra Pollastra Pisciotto, 90015 Cefalù, Italy
| | - Simona Di Ganci
- Mini-Invasivecolorectal & Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Fondazione Istituto Gemelli–G. Giglio, Contrada Pietra Pollastra Pisciotto, 90015 Cefalù, Italy
| | - Calogero Ricotta
- Mini-Invasivecolorectal & Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Fondazione Istituto Gemelli–G. Giglio, Contrada Pietra Pollastra Pisciotto, 90015 Cefalù, Italy
| | - Sergio Testai
- Radiology Unit, Fondazione Istituto Gemelli–G. Giglio, Contrada Pietra Pollastra Pisciotto, 90015 Cefalù, Italy
| | - Marta Marasà
- Radiology Unit, Fondazione Istituto Gemelli–G. Giglio, Contrada Pietra Pollastra Pisciotto, 90015 Cefalù, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Scarpulla
- Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, S. Elia-Raimondi Hospital, 93100 Caltanissetta, Italy
- Radiology Unit, Fondazione Istituto Gemelli–G. Giglio, Contrada Pietra Pollastra Pisciotto, 90015 Cefalù, Italy
| | - Aroldo Gabriele Rizzo
- Pathology Unit, Az. Osp. Ospedali Riuniti “Villa Sofia-Cervello”, Via Trabucco 180, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - Dario Raimondo
- Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione Istituto Gemelli–G. Giglio, Contrada Pietra Pollastra Pisciotto, 90015 Cefalù, Italy
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Dong H, Liu Z, Duan Y, Li D, Qiu Z, Liu Y, Huang J, Wang C. Syphilitic meningomyelitis misdiagnosed as spinal cord tumor: Case and review. J Spinal Cord Med 2021; 44:789-793. [PMID: 31603731 PMCID: PMC8477965 DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2019.1658283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Context: Syphilitic meningomyelitis is a rare manifestation of neurosyphilis, not well described in the literature.Methods: We reported a rare case of a 29-year-old female with syphilitic meningomyelitis. Her clinical manifestations and imaging findings were discussed with the related literatures reviewed.Results: The patient presented with progressive bilateral lower extremities numbness and weakness for months. Laboratory tests revealed positive serum Treponema pallidum Hemagglutinin Test (TPHA) and rapid plasma reagin test (RPR). The cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) was positive with TPHA but negative for RPR with lymphocytic pleocytosis and elevated protein. Spinal MRI showed swelling and high-signal intensity of thoracic spinal cord except T6-7 level with associated gadolinium enhancement ("flip-flop sign") and peripheral strip-like enhancement on T1WI ("candle guttering appearance"). She was initially diagnosed as spinal cord tumor due to the chronic clinical onset and cord swelling with central enhancement found on thoracic MRI. After dramatic clinical and radiographic improvement with dexamethosone and serological tests of syphilis, she was diagnosed as probable syphilitic meningomyelitis. Till now, there are 12 cases of syphilitic myelitis reported with spinal cord MR images. Thoracic cord is the predominant involved segment (10/12), "candle guttering appearance" is the most common enhancing characteristics of the lesion (7/12), "flip-flop sign" may be seen in the stage with significant inflammation (3/12).Conclusion: Syphilitic meningomyelitis can occur at early or late stage of syphilis, the onset may be acute, subacute or chronic. The imaging findings suggested focal inflammation of the spinal cord. Prognosis is relatively good after proper treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiqing Dong
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence to: Zheng Liu, Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing100053, People’s Republic of China; Ph: 008613910320552; 0086-10-83198899 ext 8701.
| | - Yunyun Duan
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dawei Li
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhandong Qiu
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaou Liu
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chaodong Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Anamnart C, Jitprapaikulsan J. Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis: don't forget syphilis. Pract Neurol 2021; 22:75-76. [PMID: 34413241 DOI: 10.1136/practneurol-2021-003148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chumpol Anamnart
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, King Prajadhipok Memorial Hospital (Prapokklao Hospital), Chanthaburi, Thailand
| | - Jiraporn Jitprapaikulsan
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Creech KT, Patel KM, Chaudhry U. Tabes Dorsalis in a Patient Presenting With Right Lower Extremity Paresthesia and Cervical Spine Pain. Cureus 2021; 13:e14011. [PMID: 33884252 PMCID: PMC8054841 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.14011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Syphilitic myelitis, also known as tabes dorsalis, is a disease affecting the posterior columns of the spinal cord and dorsal roots and presents as sensory ataxia and neuropathic pain and less commonly as paresthesia and gastrointestinal disturbance. Tabes dorsalis is the clinical manifestation of a previous infection with syphilis, and the average latency period from initial infection to presentation of symptoms is approximately 25 years. This is a rarely encountered manifestation of syphilis since the widespread usage of antibiotics. Penicillin G is the mainstay therapy of neurosyphilis and has been shown to improve and resolve spinal cord lesions associated with tertiary syphilis. We present a case of tabes dorsalis in a 56-year-old female with a history of extensive autoimmune disease who initially presented with neck pain and numbness of the right lower extremity. The unique nature of this case lies in the patient's clinical course, as her symptoms were initially attributed to her history of autoimmune disease. A reactive CSF-VDRL (cerebrospinal fluid Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) test and MRI findings led clinicians to suspect neurosyphilis and begin penicillin G. The patient began to show significant clinical improvement after penicillin G therapy was begun and was discharged to a rehabilitation facility to continue antibiotics and begin aggressive physical therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kellen T Creech
- Internal Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, USA
| | - Komal M Patel
- Family Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, USA
| | - Umar Chaudhry
- Internal Medicine, HCA Westside-Northwest, Plantation, USA
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