Popliteal syphilitic aneurysm

The case is presented of a 33 yr old patient with an aneurysm of the popliteal cavity. The absence of any obvious etiologic factor induced a search for a syphilitic etiology. The serologic reactions were positive; as confirmed by a review of recent literature, this is very rare. The importance is stressed of a strict paraclinical investigation, which is regarded as indispensable, before making the diagnosis especially in an African milieu, where because of closely related diseases positive reactions are frequent. (12 references).