microorganisms Review Syphilitic Gummata in the Central Nervous System: A Narrative Review and Case Report about a Noteworthy Clinical Manifestation Lennart Barthel 1,2,*, Susann Hetze 1,2 , Sarah Teuber-Hanselmann 3, Valérie Chapot 4 and Ulrich Sure 1 1 Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147 Essen, Germany;
[email protected] (S.H.);
[email protected] (U.S.) 2 Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital of Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147 Essen, Germany 3 Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147 Essen, Germany;
[email protected] 4 Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147 Essen, Germany;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Fax: +49-201-723-5948 Abstract: Infection with Treponema pallidum is on the rise. In this narrative literature review, we show that the incidence of rare manifestations of syphilis, such as intracerebral gummata, is increasing and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intracerebral lesions. With the exemplary case that we present here, we aim to raise awareness of the resurgence of this disease, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intracerebral lesions, especially for patients who have a Citation: Barthel, L.; Hetze, S.; risk profile for syphilis, and serological testing for T. pallidum prior to surgery should be discussed in Teuber-Hanselmann, S.; Chapot, V.; order to avoid an unnecessary operation. Sure, U. Syphilitic Gummata in the Central Nervous System: A Narrative Keywords: neurosyphilis; syphilis; treponema pallidum; syphilitic gumma; central nervous system Review and Case Report about a gumma; cerebral syphilitic gumma; brain syphilis Noteworthy Clinical Manifestation.