[Mandibular osteitis and tertiary syphilis].

The authors report the case of a 65 years old man, who suffered from an osteitis, involving the mandible. Within a few months, and despite of a well established treatment, sequestration occurred following a pathologic fracture. No specific germ was encountered after several laboratory examinations. The discovery of a primary syphilis forty years ago, confrontation of clinic and paraclinic data, suggested the actual osteitis could be a complication of tertiary syphilis. A specific treatment was started, and the situation improved progressively. After five months of treatment, mandibular reconstruction was decided. Diagnostic arguments are discussed, and the case is compared with those, not numerous, reported in the literature.