Ameya Jategaonkar1, Jaclyn Klimczak2, Jay Agarwal3, Arvind Badhey4, William M Portnoy5, Angela Damiano6, Raymond L Chai7. 1. Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America. Electronic address: ameya.jategaonkar@mountsinai.org. 2. Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America. Electronic address: jklimczak2@nyee.edu. 3. Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America. Electronic address: jagarwal@nyee.edu. 4. Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America. Electronic address: abadhey@nyee.edu. 5. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America. 6. Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY, United States of America. 7. Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection with various presentations. Although, oropharyngeal manifestations are known to occur, the purpose of this study is to present the first case series in which the lesions were initially mistaken for human-papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). METHODS: A multi-institutional retrospective review. RESULTS: Six cases of oropharyngeal syphilis were initially thought to be secondary to OPSCC due to presentation. Symptoms were vague and exam findings consisted of either a tonsillar or base of tongue mass, or lymphadenopathy. Biopsies were negative for OPSCC. Further workup diagnosed syphilis, with resolution of symptoms and lesions after antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Head and neck manifestations of syphilis have been reported in the literature. However, this is the first series reporting on oropharyngeal syphilis masquerading as HPV-related OPSCC. Ultimately, otolaryngologists must maintain a high suspicion for syphilis in order to ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment.
OBJECTIVE: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection with various presentations. Although, oropharyngeal manifestations are known to occur, the purpose of this study is to present the first case series in which the lesions were initially mistaken for human-papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). METHODS: A multi-institutional retrospective review. RESULTS: Six cases of oropharyngeal syphilis were initially thought to be secondary to OPSCC due to presentation. Symptoms were vague and exam findings consisted of either a tonsillar or base of tongue mass, or lymphadenopathy. Biopsies were negative for OPSCC. Further workup diagnosed syphilis, with resolution of symptoms and lesions after antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Head and neck manifestations of syphilis have been reported in the literature. However, this is the first series reporting on oropharyngeal syphilis masquerading as HPV-related OPSCC. Ultimately, otolaryngologists must maintain a high suspicion for syphilis in order to ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment.