Malakoplakia of the prostate diagnosed by elevated PSA level and transrectal prostate biopsy

Case report: Prostatic malakoplakia: a rare disease that has a profile mimicking prostate cancer

Prostatic malakoplakia (PMP) is a rare inflammatory disease, and misdiagnosis on imaging is a major reason for unnecessary punctures; however, information on imaging is even rarer. Five patients with PMP between May 2022 and February 2023 were enrolled in this study to summarize the imaging manifestations. All patients underwent ultrasound (US)-guided prostate biopsy and were confirmed by pathology, and the presence of prostate cancer was also excluded by pathology. The five patients, with a median age of 71 years (range = 58-74 years), had a median total prostate-specific antigen (T-PSA) of 10.40 ng/mL (range = 1.74-63.42 ng/mL). In two patients, chest computed tomography showed pulmonary infections. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Of these patients, four had a Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PIRADS) score of 5, while one had a score of 4. The lesions were mostly distributed in the peripheral zone of the prostate and appeared as a high signal on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and a low signal on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI). In the US examination, four patients had abnormal prostate morphology, with an unsmooth envelope and non-uniform parenchymal echogenicity. Four patients had increased prostate volume. US showed a hypoechoic nodule with non-uniform internal echogenicity, and an abundant internal blood flow signal was detected by color Doppler US. PSA, MRI, and US were not specific for PMP in our study, but we found that a history of co-infection may be helpful in an accurate diagnosis and to avoid unnecessary biopsy.

Malakoplakia prostate presenting as urinary retention: a report of two cases and review of the literature

Malakoplakia is a rare chronic inflammatory condition, which primarily occurs in genitourinary tract, with prostatic malakoplakia being extremely rare. We present two cases of acute urinary retention, with clinically firm nodular prostate and a raised serum prostate-specific antigen. Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostatic biopsy showed features of malakoplakia. There was a significant reduction of size of prostate on transrectal ultrasonography after 4 weeks of antibiotics. However, one patient had failed trial without catheter and was subjected to transurethral resection of prostate. The biopsy of the prostatic chips also showed features of malakoplakia. Other patient improved symptomatically after antibiotics and was managed conservatively. Both the patients are on regular follow-up and are asymptomatic. Prostatic malakoplakia presenting as urinary retention is very uncommon with around 12 cases in the literature. Recognition of prostatic malakoplakia is important because clinically it can masquerade prostatic malignancy. Treatment with antibiotics is necessary before subjecting the patients for surgery in patients with obstructive symptoms.

A pitfall in transrectal prostate biopsy: malakoplakia evaluation of two cases based on the literature review

Malakoplakia is a rarely seen inflammatory condition that is considered to develop secondary to a chronic Escherichia coli infection. Although malakoplakia usually affects the genitourinary tract, it may also be observed in the colon, stomach, lungs, liver, bones, uterus, and skin. Malakoplakia of the genitourinary system usually involves the bladder, whereas it may also affect the prostate along with the bladder. Malakoplakia of the prostate is very rare, and it may be clinically mistaken for prostatic malignancies. Definitive diagnosis is only possible through histopathological examination. This study elaborates on two patients who presented to our hospital in 2013 with high PSA levels. The primary clinical consideration was prostate carcinoma. However, these two cases were diagnosed as malakoplakia based on the results of histopathological analysis of the transrectal prostate biopsy specimen.