Syphilis in the Esophagus

Authors

Ronan Allencherril
Paul Nicholls
Shilpa Jain
Robert Sealock
Priti Dangayach

Publication Date

6-1-2022

Journal

ACG Case Reports Journal

DOI

10.14309/crj.0000000000000793

PMID

35765682

PMCID

PMC9232360

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

6-24-2022

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes

Abstract

This report documents a unique case of syphilis with esophageal involvement. Such a presentation is exceedingly rare in the modern era, particularly among patients without human immunodeficiency virus. Most instances were documented in the 1900s and earlier. Our patient presented with months of odynophagia and recurrent oral lesions. He was found to have a sizeable esophageal ulcer on endoscopy, with biopsy confirming the diagnosis of syphilis. His symptoms quickly resolved with intramuscular penicillin. This case highlights the importance of keeping a broad differential for odynophagia and suspicious lesions, cutaneous or mucosal.