Korean J Dermatol.  2010 Sep;48(9):783-785.

Annular Syphilid Mimicking Tinea Corporis

• Kang GS
• Hwang SM
• Kim DM
• Suh MK
• Kim JH
• Lee JI

Abstract

Syphilid has been called the "great imitator" of skin disease, and it can have protean clinical manifestations and it may present with unusual lesions. Annular syphilid, which can mimic sarcoid, granuloma annulare, Sweet syndrome or tinea corporis, is a rare variant of syphilid. We report here on a case of annular syphilid that mimicked tinea corporis in a 29-year-old female who showed a three month history of multiple, pruritic, well-demarcated annular scaly erythematous patches with central clearing and an elevated border on the trunk and both upper extremities. Direct mycological examination and culture did not result in finding any fungal elements, and annular syphilid was confirmed according to the histopathologic and serologic findings. She and her boyfriend were treated with benzathine penicillin G, and the skin lesions disappeared completely.

Keyword

Annular syphilid; Tinea corporis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Ethylenediamines
Female
Granuloma Annulare
Humans
Hydrazines
Penicillin G Benzathine
Skin
Skin Diseases
Sweet Syndrome
Syphilis, Cutaneous
Tinea
Upper Extremity
Ethylenediamines
Hydrazines
Penicillin G Benzathine