Syphilitic Proctitis Presenting as a Rectal Mass: a Case Report and Review of the Literature

Costales-Cantrell, Jessica K; Dong, Elizabeth; Wu, Bechien U.; Nomura, Jim

doi:10.1007/s11606-020-06414-9

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 27 publications

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“…Infections caused by bacteria from the Leptospiraceae and Spirochaetaceae families may also cause diarrhea and are more common, making the diagnosis of IS more difficult. For example, infection with Treponema pallidum may cause syphilitic proctitis, which is rare, and presents with diarrhea and lower abdominal pain with rectal biopsy histological findings of non-specific inflammation and spirochetes on silver stain [ 11 ]. Therefore, due to some overlapping symptoms, extensive patient history, lab work, and physical examination are required to differentiate between IS bacteria and other spirochetes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intestinal Spirochetosis and Chronic Diarrhea: A Case Report and Literature Review

Novick,

Berhanu,

Negassi

et al. 2023

Cureus

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Spirochetosis is a rare condition characterized by the presence of spirochetes in the gastrointestinal tract. It is typically associated with immunodeficiency. We present a case of chronic watery diarrhea in a 48-year-old housewife who had a 12-week history of variable-volume bowel movements without blood or mucus, accompanied by a sense of urgency. Chronic diarrhea led to weight loss and fatigue, significantly impacting her quality of life. Despite the absence of known risk factors, a comprehensive clinical evaluation and exclusion of other potential causes prompted a rectosigmoid biopsy, which revealed distinctive histological findings of spirochetosis. This case underscores the significance of considering spirochetosis as a differential diagnosis in cases of chronic watery diarrhea, even in the absence of immunodeficiency. The utilization of rectosigmoid biopsy and careful histopathological examination played a pivotal role in establishing an accurate diagnosis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%