Pathology Outlines

Skin inflammatory (nontumor)
Infectious disorders
Syphilis

Author: Mowafak Hamodat, M.D., MB.CH.B, MSc.

Revised: 2 July 2018, last major update March 2011

Copyright: (c) 2002-2018, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed Search: Syphilis skin [title]

Table of Contents

Clinical features | Clinical images | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Positive stains

Cite this page: Hamodat, M. Syphilis. PathologyOutlines.com website. http://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/skinnontumorsyphilis.html. Accessed August 15th, 2018.

Clinical features

Secondary lesions occur on face and trunk; are maculopapular and resemble drug eruption, lichen planus and psoriasis
May present as moth-eaten alopecia on scalp, mucous patches on tongue
Diagnose by serology
Scaly, flesh-colored to erythematous papules or annular plaques
Copper macules on palms and soles

Clinical images

Images hosted on PathOut servers:

Contributed by Dr. Mark R. Wick

Secondary

Gumma

Microscopic (histologic) description

Dense perivascular or diffuse plasma cell infiltrate with marked endothelial swelling and proliferation in blood vessels
May have noncaseating granulomas, vacuolar interface change, acanthosis, spongiosis or lymphocyte exocytosis

Microscopic (histologic) images

Images hosted on PathOut servers:

Contributed by
Hillary Rose Elwood, M.D.

Dense plasma cell infiltrate

Spirochete immunostain

Contributed by
Dr. Mark R. Wick

Steiner stain, secondary

Images hosted on other servers:

Primary syphilis

Positive stains

Steiner stain (71% sensitive)