Gumma

A lesion formed during the late stages of syphilis.

An abscess of dead tissue and overgrown scar tissue, which develops in the later stages of syphilis.

Soft tumor— a granuloma—characteristic of the tertiary stage of syphilis and found in the liver, brain, or other tissues.

A firm, tumorlike growth of the tissues, which is called a granuloma, and is usually caused by syphilis. A gumma tends to appear during the late stage of the illness, referred to as tertiary syphilis, most frequently occurring in the liver. Gumma often appears as a skin lesion on the scalp, face, chest, and legs. It may also occur in the brain, testes, heart, skin, or bone. The growth usually contains a painless mass of dead, fiber like tissue that may be swollen. Treatment is with antibiotics; usually a single dose of penicillin. For people allergic to penicillin, other antibiotics are available to treat gumma. Penicillin or other antibiotic treatment will kill the syphilis bacterium and prevent further damage from the gumma.

A small soft tumor, characteristic of the tertiary stage of syphilis, that occurs in connective tissue, the liver, brain, testes, heart, or bone.

A hard swelling, or granuloma, characteristic of tertiary syphilis. It normally develops in the skin or subcutaneous tissue, mucous membranes or submucosa, and the long bones. Although often painless, it may produce marked symptoms by interfering with the brain or other internal organs in which it may be located. Treatment with penicillin (or tetracycline if the patient is allergic) usually ensures a rapid disappearance of the gumma.

A soft granulomatous tumor characteristic of the tertiary stage of syphilis. It consists of a central necrotic mass surrounded by a zone of inflammation and fibrosis. Spirochetes may be present in the mass. Gummas vary in diameter from a millimeter or a centimeter or more and tend to occur in the liver, brain, testes, heart, and elsewhere.