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Bone marrow involvement in cutaneous mastocytosis
L A Fearfield1, N Francis, K Henry
1Departments of Dermatology and Haematology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London SW10 9NH, U.K. louisefearfield@compuserve.com
Background:
Cutaneous mastocytosis is considered a relatively benign and indolent form of mast cell disease, which either ultimately regresses, remains stable or is only slowly progressive. Previously, it has been purported that no more than 60% of adult patients with cutaneous mastocytosis will have occult bone marrow involvement.
Objectives:
To investigate the frequency of bone marrow involvement in patients with mastocytosis but without systemic symptoms.
Methods:
Bone marrow aspirate and trephine biopsy were performed in 13 consecutive patients with cutaneous mastocytosis attending our department.
Results:
All but one of these patients had evidence of bone marrow involvement. Bone marrow cytogenetic abnormalities have been found in patients with cutaneous mastocytosis: all our patients who were analysed showed a normal karyotype.
Conclusions:
Bone marrow involvement is common in adults with cutaneous mastocytosis.