[Evaluation of adenoid mast cells in children with secretory otitis media]

Mast cells may play a role in pathogenesis of the otitis media with effusion (OME) in children. The study involved 72 children with no history of allergic diseases. The analysed material were adenoids removed on the grounds of hypertrophy. Immunohistochemical analyses were carried out using antibodies (Dako, M 7052) directed against mast cell tryptase. The slides evaluation was performed by means of optic microscope. The presence of mast cells within adenoidal tissue were scored. There were no statistically significant difference between the numbers of mast cells in each examined adenoid as well as age groups. Our results correspond with those obtained by other authors according to mast cells distribution in adenoid tissue and do not indicate any particular role of mast cells in pathogenesis of OME in children.