Perforation of the palate - A report of two Syphilitic Gumma cases

Abstract

Syphilis has recently shown resurgence in its incidence especially in immune-compromised patients. We present two cases of tertiary syphilis in middle-aged males with large perforations in the hard and soft palates, one of which had Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) co-infection. Diagnosis was initially difficult due to non-specific features mimicking other conditions such as perforation of cocaine abuse aetiology, neoplastic conditions, sarcoidosis, fungal infections, bacterial infections other than Treponema pallidum and Wegeners granulomatosis.