A vascular syphilitic iris lesion

Purpose: To describe examination and imaging characteristics of presumed iris papulosa in a case of ocular syphilis.

Observations: A 60-year-old man who presented with granulomatous anterior uveitis in his left eye was also noted to have an unusual vascularized iris papule associated with posterior synechiae at the nasal pupillary margin. Anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT) of the iris lesion demonstrated a hyperreflective anterior surface with multiple vascular lumen, internal hyperreflectivity, and shadowing. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) imaging revealed an echodense mass with relative hyperechogenicity in the anterior portion of the lesion. Systemic work-up confirmed a diagnosis of syphilis, and he was treated with topical steroids and parenteral penicillin.

Conclusion and importance: We characterize the rare finding of iris papulosa that may be encountered in syphilitic uveitis and its distinctive features on both UBM and AS-OCT. This report highlights that syphilis should be considered as a possible diagnosis for an undifferentiated vascular iris mass.