Hepatitis and bone destruction as uncommon manifestations of early syphilis. Report of a case

We describe a patient with a painful lytic lesion of the clavicle and a granuloma of the liver in late secondary syphilis. The classic "moth-eaten" alopecia of the scalp as well as eyebrows and eyelashes suggested syphilis, although an initial false-negative VDRL test for syphilis (prozone phenomenon) caused a delay in diagnosis. Bone as well as liver involvement in early syphilis may be more common than previously recognized.