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Which organs can develop gummas during late syphilis?

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Scanning electron micrograph of Treponema pallidum, the spirochete bacterium that is the causative agent of syphilis. — syphilis Scanning electron micrograph of *Treponema pallidum*, the spirochete bacterium that is the causative agent of syphilis.

During the late (tertiary) stage of syphilis, patients may develop gummas, which are soft, tumorlike granulomatous lesions. While these lesions are often found beneath the skin and mucous membranes, they can also affect various internal organs and tissues.12

Specifically, gummas are known to develop in the following areas:

Bones12
Liver2
Testes2
Brain2
Nervous system1

These lesions are characteristic of what is termed "benign" late syphilis, as they typically do not pose an immediate threat to the patient's life, unlike the more severe cardiovascular or neurological manifestations of the disease.2