Malakoplakia of bone - A case report

BACKGROUND: Malakoplakia is an uncommon but distinctive granulomatous disea se, characterized by an accumulation of histiocytes or Von Hansemann cells containing intracytoplasmic, laminated Michaelis-Gutmann bodies. CASE: A 3-year-old male presented with a tenner swelling in the left glutea l region that had been present for one month. Smears made from a fine needl e aspirate showed large histiocytic cells containing intracytoplasmic, baso philic, laminated, targetoid Michaelis-Gutmann bodies resembling Von Hansem ann cells in malakoplakia. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of malako plakia of bone. CONCLUSION: This case, histologically proven to be malakoplakia, demonstrat ed regression of the lesion following therapy. The characteristic cytologic features and presence of Veil Hansemann cells may in themselves be diagnos tic and obviate the need for biopsy.