The Role of Mast Cells in Histologically “Normal” Appendices Following Emergency Appendectomy in Pediatric Patients

15–25% of appendices resected for a preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis have no neutrophilic infiltration, thus histologically “normal”. The discrepancy between clinical presentation and the lack of definite morphologic changes is confounding. It has been indicated that mast cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of the appendicitis-like pain in patients with histologically negative appendices (HNA). To investigate whether mast cells density (MCD) is increased in pediatric HNA appendices, we retrieved 50 appendectomy cases (30 HNA and 20 control, ages 2 days – 18 years) in our institute in the last 10 years.
Source: Annals of Diagnostic Pathology - Category: Pathology Authors: Source Type: research