Mastocytoses cutanées

Mastocytoses are rare disorders linked to the anormal accumulation of clonal mast cells in the organs. The skin is the prefered target organ of mastocytoses. Children are more often affected with isolated cutaneous mastocytosis. The diagnosis of Mastocytosis may be difficult both clinically and histologically. Pathological mast cells can take on different aspects which make them difficult to differentiate from other resident skin cells. This is why some 'small'associated signs are all the more important to detect because they can direct the pathologist toward theright diagnosis especially if the clinical presentation is not typical and the importance of the highlighting of mast cells by special stains, and especially immunohistochemistry using anti-c-KIT. The different clinico/pathological forms of cutaneous mastocytoses will be described.