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Updated: Feb 20, 2026
Comparative Lesions Analysis Through a Targeted Sequencing Approach
Published on: November 5, 2019
Clinicopathologic Features of Genitourinary Malakoplakia and Analytical Utility of the MetaPath Assay
1Department of Pathology, Sichuan University Affiliated Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China.
Purpose:
To describe the clinicopathological spectrum of genitourinary malakoplakia (MPL) and to evaluate the feasibility and clinical impact of metagenomic pathogen detection (MetaPath) performed on archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue.
Patients And Methods:
Clinical imaging, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, special stains and MetaPath results were retrospectively analysed in five MPL cases diagnosed between January 2019 and August 2025.
Results:
The cohort comprised four men and one woman with a median age of 65.4 years. Four lesions arose in the prostate and one in the bladder. Histology showed chronic granulomatous inflammation with numerous eosinophilic histiocytes containing 5-10 µm targetoid Michaelis-Gutmann bodies. CD68 and CD163 were diffusely positive; PAS and iron stains highlighted the inclusions. MetaPath identified pathogens in 3/5 (60%) FFPE specimens (Escherichia coli in two, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in one). Antibiotic regimens were adjusted according to MetaPath results. After a median follow-up of 6 months (range 4-8) all patients remained symptom-free.
Conclusion:
MPL is frequently misdiagnosed as malignancy. MetaPath can reliably detect pathogens in archival tissue and guide targeted antimicrobial therapy, representing a valuable adjunct to conventional culture.
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