American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

What type of lesion is most commonly associated with secondary syphilis?

1. Condyloma lata

2. Chancres

3. Vegetative growths

4. Cysts

The correct answer is: Condyloma lata

The lesion most commonly associated with secondary syphilis is condyloma lata. These are broad, wart-like lesions that appear during the secondary stage of syphilis, often found in moist areas of the body such as the genital, anal, or oral regions. They result from the proliferation of the inflammatory response due to treponemal infection and can be a significant clinical feature during this stage of the disease. Chancres, on the other hand, are associated with primary syphilis and are typically single, firm, painless ulcers that appear at the site of initial infection. Vegetative growths are not a characteristic feature of syphilis, nor are cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs that can develop in various tissues but do not specifically relate to the secondary manifestations of syphilis. Thus, condyloma lata is the distinctive lesion that identifies the secondary stage and reflects the systemic nature of the infection at that point.