Presentation
Bilateral shin pain and swelling.
Patient Data
![](https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/51395916/73b0f008ddf467c6e3860634926f27_thumb.jpeg)
![](https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/51395917/d39ac319241c243ab5dd7c4be04226_thumb.jpeg)
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![](https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/51395916/73b0f008ddf467c6e3860634926f27_big_gallery.jpeg)
Right leg (AP/lateral): there is cortical thickening with periosteal reaction of the right tibial shaft. Two ovoid lucencies are seen with the thickened cortex of the tibia. There is associated soft tissue swelling of the right shin.
Left leg (AP/lateral): there is cortical thickening of both tibial and fibular shafts.
Case Discussion
Late congenital syphilis by definition occurs in children more than 2 years old, where the infection was initially transmitted transplacentally. It is also known as the latent presentation of congenital syphilis. One of the symptoms is "Sabre shins" which are due to chronic osteitis and associated soft tissue reactive changes.
Other symptoms include:
-
Hutchinson triad which includes:
- Hutchinson's teeth: smaller, wider placed incisors with notches
- degrees of blindness due to interstitial keratitis
- deafness from auditory nerve disease
- prominent brow bridge frontal bossing
- hard palate defect
- short maxillae and protruding mandible
- sabre shins and swollen knees
- saddle nose
In this patient, the venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) titer was positive and the patient was treated with penicillin.