Mast cells in cutaneous allergic vasculitis: a case report.

Background: The mechanism of cutaneous allergic vasculitis still remains unclear, and to the best of our knowledge, no case has been reported in the literature in which the number of mast cells was examined.

Methods: A 33-year-old woman, with a past history of allergic rhinitis due to Japanese cedar and Phleum pratense (timothy), presented with a chief complaint of palpable papules on both lower legs in December 2002. On blood examination, peripheral blood eosinophilia was present, but all other examinations for immunologic diseases were negative, including specific IgE.

Quantitative analysis of mast cells in benign and malignant breast lesions. Immunohistochemical study on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues.

Background: It has been reported that the number of mast cells was significantly greater in malignant breast carcinomas than in benign breast lesions. This was due to tryptase-containing mast cells while tryptase, chymase-containing mast cells had no effect. However, analysis of mast cells in breast carcinomas and benign breast lesions based on their histological findings remains to be elucidated.