Focal malakoplakia in chronic periapical periodontitis

Histopathology. 1999 Feb;34(2):140-3. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2559.1999.00574.x.

Abstract

Aims: Three cases of chronic periapical periodontitis including focal areas with malakoplakia changes are reported.

Methods and results: These areas included both von Hansemann-type macrophages and periodic acid-Schiff-positive, iron- and calcium-containing concretions. Some concretions corresponded to spherules with a targetoid configuration, thus fitting the morphological criteria for classical Michaelis-Gutmann bodies.

Conclusion: The vast majority of the cases of malakoplakia that have been reported in the literature corresponded to a characteristic, fairly homogeneous lesion, but a few instances of focal malakoplakia have been described in various chronic conditions. These considerations support the opinion that the local conditions for the production of Michaelis-Gutmann bodies may occur focally in diseases characterized by macrophage accumulation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chronic Disease
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Malacoplakia / immunology*
  • Male
  • Periapical Periodontitis / immunology*