Syphilitic Osteomyelitis of the Clavicular Shaft Mimicking a Malignant Bone Tumor

Skeletal lesions such as osteomyelitis induced by acquired syphilis are rarely encountered except in the neuropathic joints of tertiary syphilis. The authors experienced syphilitic osteomyelitis of the clavicle in a 51 year-old lady. The lesion seemed to be a malignant tumor radiologically, but diag-nosis was not achieved even by biopsy. However, thorough serologic examinations enabled an accurate diagnosis and the disease was controlled effectively by antibiotics, including penicillin injections. The authors report this case and include a review of the literature, which describes the rarity and clinical significance of this condition. Key Words: Clavicle, Syphilitic osteomyelitis, Bone tumor Syphilitic bony lesions are unfamiliar to most physicians, and destructive lesions in the clavicle are more likely to be viewed initially as being indicative of malignant diseases. For this reason, patients may have to bear these diseases without a correct diagnosis for some time. However, ade-quate antibiotics like penicillin can easily contro