Mast cell

The mast cell is an uncommonly cell that occasionally causes problems.

Microscopic

Features:

• Ovoid/round cell with moderate amount of gray granular cytoplasm.
• Nuclear ovoid/round.
  • No obvious nucleolus.
• May be more abundant around blood vessels.

Notes:

• Lymphocyte vs. mast cell:
  • Lymphocytes = round; mast cells = ovoid.

Images:

• www:
  • Mastocytosis - low res. (jameswpattersonmd.com).
  • Mastocytosis - bone marrow - several images (upmc.edu).
• WC:
  • Mastocytosis - high mag. (WC).
  • Mastocytosis - very high mag. (WC).
  • Systemic mastocytosis - several images (upmc.edu).

Diseases

• Mastocytosis.
  • Urticaria pigmentosa.
• Asthma.

Conditions associated with the presence of mast cells

• Neurofibroma.
• Melanocytic nevi.

Stains

• Giemsa stain.
• Tyrosinase. (???)

IHC

• CD117 +ve.
• CD34 +ve.^{[citation needed]}