A case of secondary syphilis manifesting as a pulmonary pseudo-tumour with nephrotic syndrome

C B I Coccia; E Makambwa; C N Jackson; D R Chetty; Q Said-Hartley; G Symons

doi:10.7196/AJTCCM.2021.v27i2.065

A case of secondary syphilis manifesting as a pulmonary pseudo-tumour with nephrotic syndrome

Afr J Thorac Crit Care Med. 2021 Jun 23;27(2):10.7196/AJTCCM.2021.v27i2.065. doi: 10.7196/AJTCCM.2021.v27i2.065. eCollection 2021.

Authors

C B I Coccia¹, E Makambwa¹, C N Jackson², D R Chetty², Q Said-Hartley³, G Symons¹

Affiliations

¹ Departments of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
² Department of Pathology, Division of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
³ Department of Radiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

Abstract

The global incidence of primary and secondary syphilis is increasing in high-risk groups. However, pulmonary syphilis remains exceedingly rare with less than 30 cases recorded since 1967. Of these cases, none have recorded the presence of both pulmonary and renal involvement with nephrotic syndrome. Diagnosis of pulmonary syphilis remains a challenge, and there is no consensus on treatment. We report a case of a 46-year-old male with secondary pulmonary syphilis and concomitant nephrotic syndrome.

Keywords: nephrotic syndrome; pulmonary syphilis; syphilis.

Publication types

Case Reports