Malakoplakia mimicking malignant ovarian tumor: A case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Malakoplakia is a rare inflammatory condition that generally occurs in immunocompromised individuals and is thought to be secondary to a bactericidal defect in macrophages. CASE PRESENTATION: In this report, we present the case of a 50-year-old multiparous patient who presented with chronic pelvic pain. Ultrasonography revealed a suspicious left lateral-uterine mass. Laparoscopic exploration showed an inflammatory mass in the left adnexa adherent to the uterus, peritoneum, and meso-sigmoid. The patient underwent a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and peritoneal biopsy. Histological findings were consistent with a left adnexal location of malacopakia, and Bacteriological analysis revealed Escherichia coli infection sensitive to ciprofloxacin. At the 6-month follow-up, no recurrence was observed. The patient's condition improved following surgery and antibiotic treatment. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Genitourinary malakoplakia is more common in women and has no specific clinical, biological, or radiological features. Diagnosis is based on histological criteria, notably the presence of Michaelis-Gutmann bodies. Advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of malakoplakia have made it possible to consider medical treatment options, mainly through the use of antibiotics. However, in cases where the organ is severely affected, surgical excision is recommended. CONCLUSIONS: To summarize, adnexal malacoplakia is a highly uncommon disease that may be mistaken as a malignant tumor. The diagnosis is established through histological examination. The usual treatment is a combination of surgical excision followed by targeted antibiotic therapy, as the diagnosis is often not made until after surgery.