Cutaneous mastocytosis in Thai children.

BACKGROUND

Mastocytosis is a disorder of mast cells proliferation within various organs, most commonly in the skin. The disease more commonly appears during infancy than adult.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the clinical features, response to therapy and prognosis of cutaneous mastocytosis in children.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A retrospective study of cutaneous mastocytosis was performed at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health during January 1994 to December 2007.All cases were confirmed by histological diagnosis.

RESULTS

There were a total of 50 patients. The male to female ratio was 1:1.2. Age at onset of lesions ranged from birth to 7 years. Forty-seven patients (94%) developed skin lesions within the first year of ife. There were 45 cases (90%) of urticaria pigmentosa, 3 cases (6%) of mastocytoma and 2 cases (4%) of diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis. None of the patient had a family history of cutaneous mastocytosis. Most of the children were healthy, except the one who had germ cell ovarian tumor Skin biopsies were performed in all cases and revealed mast cells infiltrate in the dermis. Treatment included oral antihistamine in all cases. Oral mast cell stabilizers were given in 6 patients (12%) and topical corticosteroids in 15 patients (30%). Four patients (8%) were treated with oral prednisolone. The skin lesions resolved only in 1 patient (2%) at age 7.8 years, the others still had skin lesions without systemic symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Cutaneous mastocytosis is a benign disease in children without systemic involvement.