Abstract

INNOCENTI, A. C. Morphometric study of mast cells in cutaneous tumors. Rev. argent. dermatol. [online]. 2010, vol.91, n.3, pp.00-00. ISSN 1851-300X.

Mast cells (MC) have been implicated in tumor growth and spread. We analyzed MC in fifteen cases of each basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), malignant melanoma (MM), keratoacanthoma (KA) and seborrheic keratosis (SK) stained with toluidine blue. We found that BCC had the largest quantity of MC followed by SK, MM, SCC and KA. An extremely significant difference was found comparing MC quantity in BCC vs SCC, MM, KA and SK; SK vs SCC, MM and KA. SCC had the biggest MC area pursued by KA, MM, BCC and SK. The comparisons of MC areas were extremely significant in BCC vs SCC, MM, KA; SK vs MM, KA; SCC vs MM. SCC, also had the longest MC followed by KA, MM, SK and BCC. Extremely significant difference of MC length was found in BCC vs SCC, MM, KA, SK; SK vs SCC, MM, KA. MC were increased in every studied pathology compared with normal skin. The comparisons of MC areas and length of all of these diseases with NS were extremely different. MC area and length were inversely proportional with the quantity of MC. There is no coincidence between malignancy and great amount of MC.

Keywords : Cutaneous tumors; Mast cells; Morphometric study.