Secondary Syphilis With Elastophagocytosis: An Unusual Histologic Finding

Elastophagocytosis is a characteristic finding of granulomatous and elastolytic disorders. It is defined by phagocytosed elastic fibers within histiocytes, multinucleated giant cells, or both. This finding has also been associated with certain medications, malignancies, inflammatory conditions, and infectious disorders. Although Drs Ragaz and Ackerman reported elastophagocytosis in a secondary syphilis lesion in a review of actinic granuloma in 1979, more recent publications have not recognized this finding. We present a case of elastophagocytosis within a lesion of secondary syphilis in a 65-year-old man. Biopsy from his left forearm demonstrated features of secondary syphilis including subtle vacuolar alteration with mild superficial and mid perivascular lymphoplasmacytic inflammation. There were interstitial giant cells with phagocytosed elastic fibers within the superficial dermis. Spirochete immunostain was positive with confirmatory Treponema pallidum IgG antibody and RPR titer. In this report, we present a unique case of secondary syphilis.