Mast cells in melanocytic skin lesions : an immunohistochemical and quantitative study

The mast cells participate in inflammation and possibly in carcinogenesis. The aim of the study was to study mast cells in melanocytic lesions. The material consisted of 24 pigmented nevi, 18 dysplastic nevi and 19melanomas. The sections were stained immunohistochemically for tryptase and chymase. Positive cells were counted inside the lesions and at the interface between the lesion and dermis. The mean intralesional tryptase+count was 15.75 for nevi, 21.78 for dysplastic nevi, and 8.07 for melanomas. The chymase+intralesional count was 14.89 for nevi, 21.88 for dysplastic nevi, and 11.34 for melanomas. The tryptase+ perilesional count was 16.89 for nevi, 15.93 for dysplastic nevi, and 15.71 for melanomas. The chymase+ perilesional count was 16.52 for nevi, 16.16 for dysplastic nevi, and 14.77 for melanomas. The tryptase/chymase intralesional ratio was 0.93 for nevi, 1.05 for dysplastic nevi, and 1.67 for melanomas. The tryptase/chymase perilesional ratio was 1.02 for nevi, 1.09 for dysplastic nevi, and 1.00 for melanomas. The differences between intralesional mast cells, both tryptase+and chymase+, were statistically significant. The intralesional tryptase+ count showed an inverse correlation to age (R = –0.42); this correlation was the strongest in melanomas. The results obtained in our study suggest a possible correlation between mast cells and the pathogenesis of cutaneous melanoma

Karyometric comparison of splenic and gastric marginal zone lymphomas

Background: Marginal zone lymphomas are indolent B-cell lymphomas associated with autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. The two most frequent variants are mucosa associated lymphoid tissues marginal zone lymphomas and splenic marginal zone lymphomas. The aim of the study was to determine if it is possible to classify splenic and gastric lymphomas according to karyometric features

Hobnail hemangioma

We present a case of a 73-year-old woman who developed a small lesion on her tongue. The nodule was resected and hobnail hemangioma was diagnosed. Hobnail hemangioma is a rare vascular lesion with unusual morphology, including bland cells with hobnail appearance, biphasic grow pattern with superficial dilated vessels and slit-like vessels in the deeper portion of the lesion. The infiltrative pattern of grow may cause misdiagnosis. The differential diagnosis with hemangioendothelioma variants, low grade angiosarcomas and Kaposi sarcoma is of particular concern. The lack of recognition of this uncommon entity may result in excessive and unnecessary treatment