Abstract: A 42-year-old female presented with multiple maculopapular rashes on her palms for 45 days. She was misdiagnosed as verruca vulgaris and given the corresponding treatment with no improvement. Histopathologic examination revealed epidermal hyperkeratosis accompanied by parakeratosis, acanthosis and a large number of lymphocytes and plasmocytes were found in the upper dermis. Laboratory examination showed positive TPPA and the titre of RPR was 1:64. The case was diagnosed as secondary syphilis and was treated with an intramuscular injection of benzathine, 2.4 million units, once a week. The skin lesions subsided after 3-week treatment.

Key words: secondary syphilis, common wart, misdiagnosis