Endobronchial Foreign Body Removal—Reply

Abstract

In Reply .—I appreciate the remarks by Drs Schultz and Levit made in response to my article in theArchives(102:729-731, 1976). Otolaryngologists are faced with a diagnostic dilemma when confronted with a patient with cochleovestibular symptoms of obscure etiology, no historical evidence or hard physical findings of syphilis, and a persistent 1+ reactive or borderline FTA-ABS. Labeling the patient as having (had) syphilis may lead to profound, lifelong social and economic implications, as well as successfully won libel suits against physicians. Since the presence of Treponema pallidum has not been convincingly demonstrated in late syphilis, a definitive diagnosis cannot be made. In patients with adequately treated late syphilis, published reports of finding spirochetes in the anterior chamber of the eye by Smith, 1 in the perilymph by Wiet, 2 as well as unpublished accounts of independently demonstrating spirochetes in the perilymph by myself and by J. Clemis (oral communication presented at