Pediatric Mastocytosis: A Review of the Literature

Mastocytosis has a bimodal distribution often presenting in children from birth to 2 years of age and in those over the age of 15. Pediatric mastocytosis is due to the effects of mast-cell degranulation enzymes such as histamine and tryptase causing the presentation of pruritis, flushing, vesicles, abdominal and bone pain, or headache. Three different forms of mastocytosis can occur: urticaria pigmentosa, diffuse cutaneous, and solitary mastocytoma. Systemic symptoms are typically a result of mast-cell mediator release but do not prove systemic mast-cell hyperplasia. In this review, we present several research studies related to pediatric mast-cell disorders, and discuss several cases of pediatric mastocytosis, acute myeloid leukemia, pathophysiology, genetic studies, and treatment.