Increased numbers of mast cells in pterygia.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the mast cells in 12 pterygium specimens of patients who underwent primary excisions and the conjunctival specimens of ten normal age-matched control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The mean mast cell count per cubic millimeter was twice as high in the pterygium specimens as in the control specimens. Mast cell proliferation and activation may contribute to the pathogenesis of pterygium formation.
Department of Ophthalmology, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.
S I
SI
Butrus
M F
MF
Ashraf
D M
DM
Laby
A I
AI
Rabinowitz
S O
SO
Tabbara
A A
AA
Hidayat
D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D011625:Pterygium / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery