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Mast cell density and PGP 9.5‐immunostained nerves in angioleiomyoma: their relationship to painful symptoms
Author(s) -
GEDDY P. M.,
GRAY S.,
REID W. A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.1993.tb00141.x
Subject(s) - angioleiomyoma , mast cell , degranulation , medicine , pathology , population , immunohistochemistry , leiomyoma , immunology , receptor , environmental health
Angioleiomyoma is frequently painful and the cause of the pain is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the mast cell population and innervation of painful and painless angioleiomyomas. Twenty‐four cases of angioleiomyoma were examined; 16 painful and 8 painless cases. Pinacyanol erythrosinate and antibodies to protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 were used to demonstrate mast cells and nerves respectively. PGP 9.5‐immunoreactive nerve fibres were found in most of the painful (13/16 cases) and painless lesions (5/8). Mast cells were not seen in half of the painful lesions but were seen in most of the painless lesions (7/8). The median mast cell density was 1.1 cells/mm 2 for the painful lesions and 21.9 cells/mm 2 for the painless lesions ( P = 0.048, Mann‐Whitney test). The lower mast cell density in the painful lesions may reflect increased mast cell degranulation. It is proposed that neural and vascular events, similar to those occurring in the triple response to mild cutaneous injury, may produce pain in angioleiomyoma and other painful skin tumours.