Alkaline encrusted cystitis associated with malakoplakia

Abstract

Alkaline encrusted cystitis is a rare inflammatory condition of the bladder which has been reported sporadically over the past 80 years. It is caused by infection with urea splitting organisms leading to the deposition of inorganic salts on to the surface of the bladder. We present three cases of alkaline encrusted cystitis. In two cases the encrusted area was associated with foci of malakoplakia. The third case occurred in a patient who had received chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. To our knowledge, these are the first cases of malakoplakia associated with alkaline encrusted cystitis. These two conditions have a number of clinical and aetiological similarities, and may have more in common than has been previously thought.