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Author Spotlight: Advancing Syphilis Research — Innovations in Treponema pallidum Cultivation and Genetic Engineering
Published on: January 24, 2025
Gastric syphilis: The great imitator in the stomach
Koh Okamoto1,2, Shuji Hatakeyama1,3, Masami Umezawa1
1Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Treatment Corporation Ohkubo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
Syphilis is resurging worldwide. Here, we present the case of a 33-year-old heterosexual man who presented with a 3-week history of epigastric pain, nausea, emesis, and 8 kg weight loss. He was subsequently diagnosed with gastric syphilis, based on reactive syphilis serological testing and Treponema pallidum found in gastric biopsy specimens. Gastric syphilis is a rare presentation observed in 1% of cases and usually develops in secondary syphilis. Given the nonspecific manifestation and findings, a high index of suspicion is required for diagnosis of gastric syphilis.
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