Syphilis: a disease to exclude in diagnosing sarcoidosis.

A 37-year-old man was referred to our institution for assessment of possible sarcoidosis with involvement of the central nervous system. Before referral, he experienced a systemic illness that persisted for several months, during which time ocular and pulmonary noncaseating granulomas were identified. Sarcoidosis with involvement of the central nervous system was tentatively diagnosed. Because of several inconsistencies in the preliminary diagnosis of sarcoidosis, further assessment was pursued, and syphilis was diagnosed. Herein we emphasize the useful clinical features for distinguishing syphilis from sarcoidosis and review the clinical manifestations of pulmonary syphilis.