The lesions of congenital syphilis

Abstract

The clinical and radiological presentation of 108 cases of prenatal or congenital syphilis from a ten-year survey are reviewed. Part I deals with 102 cases of early syphilis aged from one day to six months. The bony presentations are reviewed and the relative incidence of the varying appearances stated. Histology was obtained on four cases. This did not show any specific inflammatory change. The changes are thought to be due to growth disturbance, incomplete bone formation and collapse at the growing ends of the bones. In view of the dystrophic origin rather than inflammatory origin, it is suggested that the nomenclature be reviewed. A prospective pathological study is in progress and two further autopsies have shown no inflammatory skeletal lesion. Part II deals with the late inflammatory changes which occurred. These were six cases which consisted of sabre tibiae, arthropathies and gumma. No explanation for the distribution of the lesions can be given.