Late congenital syphilis of the larynx and pharynx presenting at endotracheal intubation

The case of a 73-year-old lady with late congenital pharyngo-laryngeal syphilis is presented. Its finding was at a potentially difficult intubation during the induction of general anaesthesia. She was asymptomatic; there was no evidence of active disease on either clinical examination or serology and no treatment was required. However, it is important to differentiate this condition from others which may require treatment.