A case of a cerebral syphilitic gumma developed in a few months mimicking a brain tumor in a human immunodeficiency virus-negative patient

Abstract

Cerebral syphilitic gumma is extremely rare and easily misdiagnosed. We illustrate a case of a cerebral syphilitic gumma developed in just a few months mimicking a brain tumor in a HIV-negative patient and Treponema pallidum was detected in the cerebral syphilitic gumma.

Keywords:

• Biopsy
• cerebral syphilitic gumma
• differential diagnosis
• infection
• inflammation
• Treponema pallidum

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the generous supports from Professor Zong-Jun Zhang and Professor Yue-Ping Yin.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.