Secondary syphilis sparing palms and soles, with pulmonary involvement

Abstract

Secondary syphilis can compromise many organs and is widely known for manifesting with classic signs, such as a rash that involves palms and soles along with mucosal lesions. The absence of these manifestations, along with false negative serological tests, as seen with the prozone phenomenon, poses a difficult challenge for the clinician. When skin lesions are visible, a biopsy for pathological description and immunohistochemistry for Treponema pallidum may help aid in the confirmation and certainty of the diagnosis. Here, we report a case of secondary syphilis with atypical manifestations.