REPORT OF A CASE
A 40-year-old homosexual man was referred to the dermatology department because of a widespread eruption that had appeared 4 weeks before and that had spread rapidly. The lesions were not pruritic and he was otherwise well. He denied any sexual activity for 4 years.Examination showed several dark-purple, smooth surfaced, nontender, grouped nodules and plaques on the arm, wrists, and knees (Figs 1 and 2) and isolated papules on the shaft of the penis. The lesions ranged from 0.5 to 3 cm in diameter. No mucosal lesions or lymphadenopathy was seen. The rest of the examination showed normal findings.A skin biopsy specimen was obtained from one of the nodules (Fig 3).What is your diagnosis?
DIAGNOSIS:
Secondary syphilis.
HISTOPATHOLOGIC FINDINGS
The biopsy specimen showed a dense inflammatory infiltrate in the middermis and the upper dermis with several mononuclear cells