title: Diagnosis of mastocytosis: value of cytochemistry and immunohistochemistry.
abstract: The diagnosis of mastocytosis or mast cell disease may be difficult sometimes because of the wide variety of clinical presentation, abnormal morphology of mast cells, and variation in histologic features which may mimic varieties of other diseases. Over the years, several cell type specific cytochemical and immunochemical markers have been used for the identification of hematopoietic cells in order to establish the accurate diagnosis of mastocytosis and their associated hematologic diseases. Cytochemical stain for aminocaproate esterase is the most specific enzyme marker for identification of mast cells on cytologic specimens and the immunohistochemical stain for tryptase and/or c-kit has also been established as a sensitive and specific marker for mast cells in paraffin sections.
authors.affiliation: Hematopathology/Hilton 1020, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street, Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. li.chinyang@mayo.edu
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D015415:Biomarkers; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D004396:Coloring Agents; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018450:Disease Progression; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008415:Mastocytosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000032:analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000032:analysis; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase; D053802:Tryptases; D014582:Urticaria Pigmentosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D004396:Coloring Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007527:Isoenzymes; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C430467:aminocaproate esterase; C019873:chloroacetate esterase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D053802:Tryptases