Abstract

Syphilis is a chronic systemic infection caused by Treponema pallidum; it is sexually transmitted and characterized by episodes of active disease interrupted by periods of latency. Syphilitic involvement of the stomach can occur via the blood flow in the primary or secondary period of syphilis, but its incidence is very rare. Because gastric syphilis has no pathognomic clinical findings and it shows variable gastroscopic findings, it's not so easy to diagnose. After gastric syphilis is correctly diagnosed, it can be easily cured by appropriate antibiotic therapy. The clinicians need to be aware of this disease entity when the patient has mucosal inflammation and ulceration of stomach with the past history of syphilis, or if the patient has lived in edemic areas of syphilis. We report on a case of gastric syphilis that manifested with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. It was initially thought to be stomach cancer, but it was correctly diagnosed by serologic testing and the histopathologic findings. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2006;32:124⁣127)

• Keywords: Gastric syphilis, Upper gastrointestinal bleeding