Malacoplakia of the vallecula masquerading as a malignancy

Area of Science:

• Pathology
• Oncology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Malacoplakia is a rare chronic granulomatous inflammatory condition.
• It predominantly affects the urinary tract but can occur elsewhere.
• Head and neck presentations are exceptionally uncommon.

Observation:

• A 50-year-old woman presented with a vallecula mass.
• Clinical examination raised suspicion of malignancy.
• The mass was diagnosed as malacoplakia.

Findings:

• This case represents a rare instance of malacoplakia in the head and neck.
• The lesion's appearance mimicked malignant tumors on clinical evaluation.
• Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of malacoplakia.

Implications:

• Highlights the importance of considering rare benign conditions in differential diagnosis.
• Emphasizes the need for thorough investigation when malignancy is suspected.
• Contributes to the literature on unusual presentations of malacoplakia.