Malakoplakia of the neck

Malakoplakia that presents in the head and neck is very rare. We describe a 76-year-old man who presented with an inflammatory mass in the lateral aspect of the neck that clinically mimicked a tumoral expansion and was consistent with a cervical malakoplakia. To our knowledge, this is the second case reported with manifestations of this chronic inflammatory disease localized in the neck. Malakoplakia is a rare granulomatous disease that most frequently involves the genitourinary tract and occurs in an immunodeficient host. The symptoms are nonspecific and the diagnosis is based on the histologic findings. In the present case, the biopsy specimen of the cervical mass revealed a collection of numerous von Hansemann cells containing Michaelis-Gutmann bodies, which are pathognomonic of malakoplakia. Bacteriologic analysis identified Escherichia coli. The evolution was favorable after surgical excision and prolonged antibiotic therapy with fluoroquinolones.