%0 Journal Article
%T A diagnosis of syphilis following a radical circumcision for suspected penile cancer.
%A Pang KH
%A Haider A
%A Freeman A
%A Hadway P
%A Bunker C
%A Muneer A
%A Alnajjar HM
%J Ann R Coll Surg Engl
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Apr 2
%M 38563065
%F 1.951
%R 10.1308/rcsann.2022.0143
%X We present a case of a 70-year-old gentleman who was referred to our tertiary 2-week-wait penile cancer clinic with a penile mass that was ulcerated, painful and discharging. This was suspicious for penile cancer and a radical circumcision was performed to remove the diseased foreskin en bloc with the lesion that was arising from the inner foreskin. Histopathology did not reveal cancer; however, we identified spirochaetes in keeping with syphilis. This was confirmed on serology. The patient was referred to the genitourinary medicine team and treated with antibiotics. This case demonstrates a rare presentation of genital syphilis in an elderly gentleman initially referred with concerns of penile cancer. Although, rare, especially in this age group, syphilis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in a patient presenting with an ulcerated, discharging, firm penile mass, especially given that the incidence of syphilis has been rising in recent years.