Tracking Endometrial Malacoplakia Through the Evolution of 2D and 3D Ultrasound and Histopathological Features

Cureus. 2024 Jan 14;16(1):e52268. doi: 10.7759/cureus.52268. eCollection 2024 Jan.

Abstract

Malacoplakia is an uncommon disease characterized by chronic and granulomatous inflammation, which rarely involves the female genital tract. We describe the ecographic and histological evolution of the first case of a patient developing endometrial malacoplakia as a complication after a cesarean section. The patient, a 43-year-old woman, presented with pelvic pain one month after delivering by cesarean section and the initial suspicion was of retention of placental rests. We discuss the diagnostic challenges for this rare disease, highlighting the importance of considering endometrial malacoplakia as a possible diagnosis in patients with similar clinical presentations and the important role of 2D and 3D ultrasound in the diagnostic pathway. In literature, ultrasound findings in cases of endometrial malacoplakia are represented by hypoechoic thickening of the endometrial lining; hyperechoic thickening of the myometrium, and the presence of masses, nodules, cystic areas, or anechoic fluid within the endometrium. For the first time, we describe the evolution of endometrial malacoplakia through both ultrasound, 2D and 3D, and histopathological findings, from the acute to chronic stage of the disease.

Keywords: endometrium; inflammatory pathology; malacoplakia; michaelis–gutmann bodies; ultrasound.

Publication types

  • Case Reports