[Pulmonary malakoplakia and Rhodococcus equi infection. A report of two cases and review].

Malakoplakia is a rare, chronic, granulomatous disease seen in immunocompromised patients, caused by multiple infectious agents, most often bacteria. Microscopically, accumulations of macrophages with granular cytoplasm and intra- or extracellular structures, called Michaelis-Gutmann bodies are characteristic. Main cause of pulmonary malakoplakia is Rhodococcus equi infection. We report two cases of pulmonary malakoplakia, in one case R. equi infection was confirmed. We also present a summary of recent knowledge about the pathogenesis, morphology and clinical course of the disease.