A case of syphilitic aortic aneurysm with sternal erosion and impending rupture

Syphilitic aortic aneurysm is a rare occurrence in the current antibiotic era. Cardiovascular syphilis has nearly disappeared in developed countries, although it remains a factor in differential diagnosis in developing nations. We report a case of syphilitic aortic aneurysm eroding through the sternum in a 52-year-old man who underwent successful surgical repair.