Confirmed Treponema pallidum pleural effusion in patient with known syphilis.

Pulmonary and pleural involvement in Treponema pallidum infection is uncommon. Previously reported syphilis-related pleural effusions have been described largely based on clinical features combined with positive syphilis serology rather than the detection of T pallidum in pleural fluid or pleural biopsy. We report a case of secondary syphilis and confirmed syphilitic pleural effusion via thoracentesis.