A Rare Case of Colonic Malakoplakia in an Immunocompetent Man With Prior Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: 1666

INTRODUCTION: Malakoplakia is a rare chronic granulomatous condition related to a defect in macrophage phagolysosomal response in which engulfed bacteria are not destroyed. The urinary bladder is the most common site for malakoplakia to present and the gastrointestinal tract is a distant secondly reported site. Malakoplakia is often associated with conditions that cause immunodeficiency. We report a rare case of colonic malakoplakia (CM) in an asymptomatic, immunocompetent man with history of successfully treated hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: A 70-year-old African American man with a past medical history of treated HCV due to prior intravenous drug use, was referred by his primary care provider for screening colonoscopy. He was asymptomatic and clinical history was negative for inflammatory or other infectious diseases. He denied use of immunosuppressant medications. HCV RNA was undetectable. HIV serology was negative. No remarkable findings on physical examination. During colonoscopy, a single 5 mm sessile polyp was noted in the transverse colon and was removed (Figure 1). Histopathological analysis of polyp identified targetoid calcospherites on Von Kossa calcium stain consistent with Michaels-Gutman bodies, diagnostic of malakoplakia (Figures 2 and 3). On repeat colonoscopy four months later, a single 14 mm sessile polyp was found in the proximal descending colon with histopathology consistent with tubular adenoma. No findings suggestive of malakoplakia was noted, however, exam may have been limited due to poor bowel prep. DISCUSSION: In summary, malakoplakia has been reported to involve the urinary tract in approximately 75% of cases while the gastrointestinal tract is involved less than 10% of reported cases. CM is often associated with neoplasms such as adenocarcinoma, adenoma, and lymphoma and other non-neoplastic conditions such as infections, sarcoidosis, diabetes mellitus, alcoholic liver disease, immunosuppressive therapy, or other conditions of immunodeficiency. Though not previously reported, HCV could have played a role in development of CM. HCV as been reported to be associated with the development of cutaneous malakoplakia; therefore, we cannot exclude association of other extrahepatic manifestations. In conclusion, CM is a rare chronic granulomatous condition that can be incidentally found in immunocompetent individuals, more studies warranted to evaluate any association with HCV.