title: Mast cells and macrophages in endometrial lesions.
abstract: One hundred and forty cases of endometrial lesions including 128 endometrial polyps, 7 cases of atypical hyperplasia and 5 cases of endometrial carcinoma were studied for mast cells and macrophages. Thirty six uteri with normal cyclic variations served as a control group. A cyclical variation in the mean mast cell value was observed in the control group with an increase in the secretory phase. Endometrial polyps showed a decrease in average mast cell count compared to the proliferative phase controls. Mast cells were significantly decreased in atypical hyperplasia and were absent in endometrial carcinoma. The observations indicate a hormonal basis for the significant variation in mast cell. Their presence probably suggests benign nature of the lesion. PAS positive macrophages were seen only in 4 endometrial polyps, too small for assessment of their significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rameshkumar
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nirmala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000473:pathology*