Giant inguinal and suprapubic mastocytomas in an adult with a history of childhood mastocytosis

Anetodermic mastocytosis: response to PUVA therapy

Mastocytosis is a group of disorders characterized by the accumulation of mast cells in different tissues and organs. The skin is the most frequently involved organ (90% of cases) where mastocytosis may show a heterogenic clinical expression. Anetodermic lesions are an unusual clinical presentation of mastocytosis. We report a case of anetodermic mastocytosis in a 26-year-old man, with sparse lesions and a benign course. PUVA therapy obtained excellent results in this case. Darier's sign should be investigated in patients with anetodermic lesions of unclear origin in order to exclude cutaneous mastocytosis.

Mastocytosis

Mastocytosis is defined by a pathological increase in mast cell numbers in tissues. Recent clinical observations on rare manifestations highlight the diversity of this disease. The diagnosis is now aided by new surrogate markers. At the molecular level, recent studies have reinforced the role of activating mutations in KIT in the etiology of mastocytosis. These findings provide a conceptual basis for the development for new therapeutic strategies.