{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T15:05:32Z","timestamp":1788447932153,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,26]],"date-time":"2023-09-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1695686400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Ministero dell\u2019Istruzione, dell\u2019Universit\u00e0 e della Ricerca (MIUR)\u2014PON-AIM Line 1","award":["AIM1892002"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["AIM1892002"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Dentistry Journal"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Syphilis is a worldwide sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum. In most cases, the oral manifestations of syphilis infection are associated with cutaneous involvement. However, the present case report is noteworthy since the oral lesions are the sole clinical sign in an HIV-positive transgender patient. Case presentations: We reported an uncommon case of secondary syphilis in a 37-year-old seropositive transgender male, whose diagnostic suspect was based only on oral mucosal lesions. The patient was referred to the Oral Medicine Unit for the presence of multiple undiagnosed painful oral lesions. The intraoral examination revealed the presence of white and red plaques on the right and the left buccal mucosa and several painful lesions localized on the upper and lower labial mucosa. No cutaneous lesions were observed. Considering the sexual history of the patient and clinical findings, secondary syphilis infection was suspected. The serologic analysis was conducted, and the diagnosis of syphilis was confirmed. Moreover, to exclude the presence of oral epithelial dysplasia or malignant disease, an incisional biopsy was performed. Discussion: Compared to the literature data, oral lesions as lone signs of secondary syphilis infection are uncommon, especially in HIV-positive patients. Syphilis and HIV coinfection create a concerning situation as they interact synergistically, leading to an increased risk of transmission and faster disease progression. Conclusions: This case report emphasizes the importance of considering syphilis as a diagnostic possibility, even when oral lesions are the only clinical manifestations, especially in HIV-positive patients. Comprehensive evaluation, including a detailed sexual history and careful oral examination, is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management in such cases.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/dj11100231","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,26]],"date-time":"2023-09-26T03:45:23Z","timestamp":1695699923000},"page":"231","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Oral Secondary Syphilis in an HIV-Positive Transgender Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4008-6502","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rodolfo","family":"Mauceri","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences (DiChirOnS), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy"},{"name":"Unit of Oral Medicine and Dentistry for Fragile Patients, Department of Rehabilitation, Fragility, and Continuity of Care, University Hospital Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0834-1841","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martina","family":"Coppini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences (DiChirOnS), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1992-1796","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antonio","family":"Cascio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (ProMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marcello","family":"Trizzino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (ProMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Valentina","family":"Crivello","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (ProMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ada Maria","family":"Florena","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (ProMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9443-0495","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giuseppina","family":"Campisi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences (DiChirOnS), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy"},{"name":"Unit of Oral Medicine and Dentistry for Fragile Patients, Department of Rehabilitation, Fragility, and Continuity of Care, University Hospital Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"363","DOI":"10.15698\/mic2016.09.523","article-title":"Syphilis: Re-Emergence of an Old Foe","volume":"3","author":"Stamm","year":"2016","journal-title":"Microb. 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