Gastric syphilis mimicking linitis plastica
R. A. Abdu, K. Carter and W. J. Pomidor
Department of Surgery, St Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center, Youngstown, Ohio 44501-1790.
The decreased incidence of gastric syphilis has made its clinical
presentation less widely appreciated. A 61-year-old man suffering from
epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting had an initial diagnosis of gastric
carcinoma; the pathologic diagnosis was equivocal. Eventually, gastric
syphilis was diagnosed. In the context of the case described below,
positive serologic findings in a relatively young adult should raise the
suspicion of gastric syphilis. Carcinoma must be ruled out, lest the
patient lose valuable time while being treated for syphilis.
