Histopathologic ear findings of syphilis: a temporal bone study

Area of Science:

• Otopathology
• Neuroscience
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Histopathologic studies of syphilitic ears have primarily focused on hydropic changes.
• Peripheral vestibular otopathology in syphilis has not been extensively studied using advanced microscopy techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate peripheral vestibular otopathology in human temporal bone samples from patients with a history of syphilis.
• To compare vestibular hair cell densities between syphilis and control groups using differential interference contrast microscopy.

Main Methods:

• Examined 13 human temporal bone samples from 8 patients with syphilis and a control group.
• Performed conventional light microscopy for qualitative assessment.
• Utilized differential interference contrast microscopy for type I and type II vestibular hair cell counts.

Main Results:

• Observed precipitate in endolymphatic/perilymphatic spaces in 7.7% of syphilis samples.
• Endolymphatic hydrops were present in 61.5% of syphilis samples, affecting the cochlea and/or saccule.
• Syphilis group showed a significant loss of type II vestibular hair cells in the maculae and cristae compared to controls (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Syphilis is associated with significant peripheral vestibular hair cell loss, particularly type II cells.
• Findings suggest syphilis can cause vestibular dysfunction beyond hydropic changes.
• Differential interference contrast microscopy is valuable for assessing vestibular hair cell damage in syphilitic ears.