Osteolytic calvarial lesions as initial presentation of latent neurosyphilis

Colin Son; Derek Samples; Andrew Brenner; John Floyd

doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2014.11.014

Osteolytic calvarial lesions as initial presentation of latent neurosyphilis

J Clin Neurosci. 2015 May;22(5):909-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2014.11.014. Epub 2015 Feb 7.

Authors

Colin Son¹, Derek Samples², Andrew Brenner³, John Floyd²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, 7702 Floyd Curl, MC 7843, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. Electronic address: sonc2@uthscsa.edu.
² Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, 7702 Floyd Curl, MC 7843, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
³ Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.

PMID: 25669116
DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2014.11.014

Abstract

We report a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection whose initial presentation of neurosyphilis was painful calvarial lesions. A literature search reveals seven previous cases of calvarial involvement in early acquired syphilis but none in patients diagnosed with neurosyphilis. This patient emphasizes the need to consider atypical infections when encountering skull lesions, especially in the setting of human immunodeficiency virus co-infection.

Keywords: Human immunodeficiency virus; Skull tumor; Syphilis; Syphilitic osteitis.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged
Diagnosis, Differential
HIV Infections / complications
HIV Infections / diagnosis
Humans
Male
Neurosyphilis / complications
Neurosyphilis / diagnosis*
Osteolysis / diagnosis*
Osteolysis / etiology
Skull / pathology*