Cutaneous malakoplakia masquerading as pyoderma gangrenosum

Abstract

Cutaneous malakoplakia is a rare infection-related granulomatous disease frequently associated with immunocompromised states. Foamy macrophages containing basophilic granules, called the Michaelis-Gutman bodies, are pathognomonic. We report a case of cutaneous malakoplakia in a 77-year-old male with pyoderma gangrenosum and a 2-year history of a non-healing malleolar ulcer treated successfully with cotrimoxazole.

Malakoplakia involving the maxilla: A case report and a review of the literature

“…Malakoplakia is a rare inflammatory disease process which often arises as soft, yellow or fleshcolored plaques or papules, typically within the genitourinary or gastrointestinal tracts [1]; however, this clinical presentation varies depending on the site of involvement [2]. Cutaneous lesions of malakoplakia present as ulcerated plaques or nodules [3,4] while visceral involvement more commonly forms masses and affects sites such as the abdomen or the head and neck [2,5]. Oral involvement is exceedingly rare [1,6,7].…”

“…Females are four times more likely to develop malakoplakia of the genitourinary tract [8], while cutaneous lesions occur twice as often in men [3]. Adults in the fifth decade of life or older are most commonly affected [7,9], but rare cases in infants have also been reported [10,11].…”

Cutaneous malakoplakia arising on the ankle of a patient with pyoderma gangrenosum

“…To our knowledge, there is only one reported case of cutaneous malakoplakia masquerading as pyoderma gangrenosum. 8…”

“…In this report, the authors present an unusual case of cutaneous malakoplakia that developed on the ankle of an adult male with previously diagnosed and biopsy‐proven pyoderma gangrenosum currently treated with systemic immunosuppressive agents. To our knowledge, there is only one reported case of cutaneous malakoplakia masquerading as pyoderma gangrenosum 8 …”