Case report of gastric syphilis in Korea

Rationale: Syphilis is a contagious infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum. Gastric involvement of syphilis is rare and has nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms and endoscopic findings. To date, 16 cases have been reported in Korea. Here, we report 2 additional cases of gastric syphilis in men in their 30 second. Patients concerns: Two 35- and 33-year-old men presented with epigastric pain. Diagnosis: The serum venereal disease research laboratory and fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption tests were positive. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed multiple variable-sized flat elevated lesions and geographic ulcers with whitish exudates in the antrum and body. Warthin–Starry silver staining of endoscopic biopsy specimens confirmed gastric syphilis. Interventions: The patients were treated with an intramuscular injection of 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin once a week for 3 weeks. Outcomes: Clinical symptoms and gastric lesions were completely resolved. Lessons: First, gastric syphilis, despite its rarity and nonspecific symptoms and endoscopic findings, should be considered in a rare extracutaneous presentation of syphilis. Second, a high index of clinical suspicion and an accurate diagnosis based on a combination of clinical, radiological, endoscopic, serologic, and histopathologic findings provide an opportunity to identify and treat patients with gastric syphilis.