# Syphilitic Aortitis Incidentally Detected by Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT

## TL;DR

A rare case of syphilitic aortitis was discovered using a PET/CT scan, highlighting its potential for early detection.

## Contribution

This case demonstrates how 18F-FDG PET/CT can detect syphilitic aortitis before symptoms appear.

## Key findings

- Syphilitic aortitis was detected incidentally using 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging.
- Early detection via PET/CT may allow timely intervention and prevent severe complications.

## Abstract

Syphilis shows a variety of symptoms at various stages; it is a sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum. Syphilitic aortitis is a recognized complication of tertiary syphilis that may progress to aortic aneurysm formation. Because this condition can be fatal, early diagnosis is crucial to optimize patient outcomes. We describe a rare case of syphilitic aortitis incidentally detected by Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT. Utilization of 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging can facilitate the identification of syphilitic aortitis during its subclinical phase, thereby enabling timely intervention and potentially averting severe or fatal complications.