A 20-year-old male comes to the physician because of a 1-week-history of a painless ulceration on his penis. The patient is sexually active with multiple partners and does not use barrier protection. He also has a diffuse maculopapular rash involving the trunk, extremities, palms, and soles. An HIV test is negative. Rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test (FTA-ABS) are positive. Genital examination reveals multiple elevated lesions on the scrotum and perineal region. Histopathologic evaluation of these lesions would most likely reveal which of the following in this patient?

Question

A 20-year-old male comes to the physician because of a 1-week-history of a painless ulceration on his penis. The patient is sexually active with multiple partners and does not use barrier protection.   He also has a diffuse maculopapular rash involving the trunk, extremities, palms, and soles. An HIV test is negative. Rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test (FTA-ABS) are positive. Genital examination reveals multiple elevated lesions on the scrotum and perineal region. Histopathologic evaluation of these lesions would most likely reveal which of the following in this patient?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Histopathologic examination of syphilitic lesions classically demonstrates a proliferative endarteritis with a surrounding plasma cell infiltrate.  Most of the manifestations of syphilis are due to localized tissue ischemia resulting from endarteritis.

A 20-Year-Old Male Comes to the Physician Because of a 1-Week-History