Background: Cutaneous mastocytosis is considered a relatively benign and indolent form of mast cell disease, which either ultimately regresses, remains stable or is only slowly progressive. Previously, it has been purported that no more than 60% of adult patients with cutaneous mastocytosis will have occult bone marrow involvement.
Objectives: To investigate the frequency of bone marrow involvement in patients with mastocytosis but without systemic symptoms.
Methods: Bone marrow aspirate and trephine biopsy were performed in 13 consecutive patients with cutaneous mastocytosis attending our department.
Results: All but one of these patients had evidence of bone marrow involvement. Bone marrow cytogenetic abnormalities have been found in patients with cutaneous mastocytosis: all our patients who were analysed showed a normal karyotype.
Conclusions: Bone marrow involvement is common in adults with cutaneous mastocytosis.