Gumma of the stomach in congenital syphilis.

Abstract

A gummatous lesion of the stomach due to congenital syphilis in an 11 year old white male is described. A history of vomiting, chronic intermittent abdominal pain, and loss of weight in a child with a positive serologic test for syphilis suggested the possibility of gastric syphilis. The roentgenologic demonstration of a constricting lesion of the stomach, gastric anacidity, and gastroscopic visualization of a red, friable, granular lesion, with ulceration, suggests a syphilitic gastric lesion. Failure to melt the lesion with a therapeutic trial of antiluetic medication prompted surgical resection of a large portion of the stomach. A lesion, compatible with the diagnosis of gumma of the stomach, was found in the gross and microscopic examination of the removed tissue.