{Reference Type}: Case Reports
{Title}: Granulomatous Secondary Syphilis: A Case Report with a Brief Overview of the Diagnostic Role of Immunohistochemistry.
{Author}: Ambrogio F;Cazzato G;Foti C;Grandolfo M;Mennuni GB;Vena GA;Cassano N;Lettini T;Castronovi C;Ingordo V;Romita P;Filotico R;
{Journal}: Pathogens
{Volume}: 12
{Issue}: 8
{Year}: 2023 Aug 18
{Factor}: 4.531
{DOI}: 10.3390/pathogens12081054
{Abstract}: The diagnosis of syphilis can be challenging for dermatologists and dermatopathologists. In particular, secondary syphilis can have different clinical and histopathological presentations. A granulomatous tissue response is an unusual finding in secondary syphilis. We report the case of a 77-year-old man who presented with a 4-week history of non-pruritic generalised macules, papules, nodules and plaques. Histopathologically, there was a dense perivascular and periadnexal lympho-histiocytic dermal infiltrate with non-palisading and non-caseifying epithelioid granulomas and abundant plasma cells. The diagnosis of syphilis was confirmed by serology and immunohistochemical detection of Treponema pallidum in the biopsy specimen. A brief overview of the diagnostic role of immunohistochemistry is also provided, with particular emphasis on reported cases of granulomatous secondary syphilis.