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Radionuclide Imaging in a Case of Tertiary Syphilis Involving the Liver and Bones

Nuclear Medicine Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Brockton/West Roxbury
The Harvard Joint Program in Nuclear Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts

Correspondence: For reprints contact: Walter H. Williams, MD, Nuclear Medicine Service, VA Medical Center, 1400 V.F.W. Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02132.

ABSTRACT

Tertiary syphilis is an unusual entity. We have encountered a case of tertiary syphilis of the liver and bone demonstrated by scintigraphy. With liver involvement, the liver scan showed focal defects due to gummas, and distortion due to scarring. Bone involvement was shown as increased cortical activity from periostitis, focal hot spots due to osteomyelitis, and cold defects due to gumma formation. Because syphilis is easily treated, but may not be as readily recognized, the diagnosis should be considered in cases of focal liver or bone disease of obscure etiology.