Malakoplakia

Excerpt

Malakoplakia is a rare inflammatory condition that typically occurs in immunocompromised individuals. It was first described by Michaelis and Gutmann in 1902 after identifying the Michaelis-Gutmann bodies that are pathognomonic for this condition. In 1903, von Hansemann coined the term “malakoplakia,” meaning “soft plaque.” This condition typically affects the urinary tract, but the involvement of nearly every organ system has been reported to include the pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, musculoskeletal, lymphatic, integumentary, and central nervous systems. While the exact etiology is unknown, Escherichia coli is the most common organism associated with this condition, although several others have been implicated. Common treatment approaches include a combination of surgical excision and oral antibiotics or oral antibiotics as monotherapy.