Where is a syphilitic chancre commonly found?

• A. On the hard palate
• B. On the sole of the foot
• C. On the glans or inner foreskin
• D. On the inner cheek

Answer: (C)

Syphilitic chancre is the painless ulcer that appears at the site where the bacteria first entered the body during infection. In most people, this happens on the genital area, most commonly on the glans penis or the inner foreskin, where sexual contact provides the inoculation site. The chancre starts as a firm, round, indurated ulcer with a clean base and is often associated with nearby painless lymph node swelling; it typically heals on its own in a few weeks if untreated. While chancres can occur at other mucosal sites if exposure happened there, the genital region is by far the most common location. Lesions on the palate, sole of the foot, or inner cheek are much less typical.