Primary chancre in the rectum: A report of rare case of syphilis

Abstract

Rectal syphilis is rare and it is easily diagnosed as rectal cancer. We report a case of a 32-year-old male patient complained of intermittent blood stool for 2 months. The patient was initially diagnosed suffering from rectal cancer based on clinical findings, Computed Tomography (CT) and sigmoidoscopy examination, but rectal biopsy specimens and lymph node biopsy revealed no cancer cells. After knowing that he had a history of homosexuality, rectal syphilis was diagnosed because of positive syphilis-related indices. CT imaging of rectal syphilis was retrospectively evaluated and it may play a role in directing the adequate diagnosis with subsequent effective treatment of such patient population.