Malakoplakia and tuberculosis

A 33 year old woman developed a soft mass in the left anterior neck following treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis. An incisional biopsy was performed and a cold abscess drained. Histology confirmed a diagnosis of tuberculosis. In addition, there were numerous intracellular bodies which resembled the Michaelis-Gutmann bodies of malakoplakia. This case however displayed some atypical histological, histochemical and ultrastructural features, which are highlighted in this report. The mass responded to combination antituberculous treatment.