[Post syphilitic oro-nasal communication].

INTRODUCTION

Oro-nasal communication occurs due to a lack of bone and mucous membranes between the oral cavity and the nasal fossae, rarely subsequent to tertiary syphilis.

CASE REPORT: A 27 year-old woman with a history of an untreated genital chancre which developed 7 years earlier, presented hard palate necrosis surrounded with granulation tissue. Syphilitic gum of the hard palate was diagnosed. After antibiotic treatment, the palatine lesion healed with persistence of an oro-nasal fistula. Physical examination of the oral cavity demonstrated median oro-nasal communication of the hard palate measuring 0,5 cm in diameter. HIV and syphilitic serologies were negative. The treatment consisted in surgical closure of the oro-nasal communication by the refection of nasal and oral plans. The follow-up was good.

DISCUSSION: Oro-nasal communication due to syphilis is exceptional, of easy diagnosis and generally needs surgical treatment.