title: Mast cell sarcoma of the scalp: the first sign of undisclosed systemic mastocytosis?
abstract: Mastocytosis is a neoplastic disease of mast cells and their CD34+ precursors, including a heterogeneous group of disorders. It is characterized by abnormal growth and accumulation of mast cells in one or more organ systems. Mast cell sarcoma is an extremely rare and aggressive disease characterized by local proliferation of atypical mast cells, destructive growth and poor prognosis, without systemic involvement. Very few clinical cases describing this entity have been reported in the literature. In this paper, we report a case of a mast cell sarcoma, localized in the scalp of a 63-year-old woman; it appears to be the first manifestation of undisclosed systemic mastocytosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomorphological and Functional Science, Section of Anatomic Pathology, Federico II University, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Falleti
authors.forename: Ludovica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borgia
authors.forename: Anna Vittoria
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Lalinga
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Cecio
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Natella
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Patitucci
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vita
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D012515:Mast-Cell Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D034721:Mastocytosis, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012535:Scalp; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit