title: Renal malakoplakia mimicking a malignant renal carcinoma: a patient case with literature review.
abstract: Malakoplakia, a medical, surgical, pathological and radiological enigma, is an infrequent chronic inflammatory condition that can affect many organ systems, including the gastrointestinal tract, integument, skeletal system and genitourinary tract. Review of the literature has shown that malakoplakia presents in paediatric as well as adult populations, and that it is associated with impaired immune function. Variable clinical manifestations as well as the sometimes non-specific radiological findings of malakoplakia can be misleading, making diagnosis quite difficult. We present a clinical case of renal malakoplakia mimicking a malignant renal carcinoma in a 62-year-old woman. This report highlights the importance of awareness of malakoplakia in the differential diagnosis for renal masses and renomegaly. This case can serve as a reminder that things are not always what they seem, and it reinforces the idea that unusual disease entities should be explored to aid in achieving a correct diagnosis and, thus, potentially avoid unnecessary treatment.
authors.affiliation: Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie Daniela Knights
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Purnell
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Rhonda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burch-Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coleman
mesh_terms: D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008287:Malacoplakia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged