Systemic Mastocytosis: Radiological Point of View

Abstract

Radiological diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis (SM) can be hard to establish. This is mainly due to the variable radiological features involving many organ systems (e.g., respiratory, cardiovascular, lympho-reticular, digestive systems, and most commonly skin), and the broad spectrum of skeletal findings, in particular. Skeletal involvement is the most common and prominent imaging feature in patients with SM and represents a prognostic factor as it may entail an aggressive course of the disease. Diagnosis, which is largely established by histological evaluation of a bone marrow trephine biopsy specimen supplemented by imaging modalities such as radiography, CT, and magnetic resonance imaging, requires a team approach between the hematologist, radiologist, and pathologist. The general radiologist needs to be familiar with the imaging findings because they may be the first to suggest the correct diagnosis. The primary purposes of this article were to equip clinicians with pertinent radiological semiotics and present relevant radiological features that assist early diagnosis and selection of an effective treatment.

Acute abdomen due to anaphylactic intestinal edema associated with systematic mastocytosis: a case report

“…Patients with SM also show skeletal involvement, such as osteopenia/osteoporosis with bone pain [13], as observed in the present patient. Bone disease is known to be the common imaging feature in patients with SM, and its detection may help diagnose the disease.…”

“…Bone disease is known to be the common imaging feature in patients with SM, and its detection may help diagnose the disease. In addition, it was reported skeletal involvement may become a prognostic factor [ 13 ]. However, it should be most emphasized that gastrointestinal symptoms have been reported in more than 50% of SM patients [ 8 , 9 ].…”

Aggressive systemic mastocytosis with multiple organ involvement: a case report

“…The vertebrae’s involvement can be lytic, sclerotic or mixed in systemic mastocytosis. This specific case was identified to have a mixed pattern [ 12 ]. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom among patients suffering from SM, which occurs in 50%, nausea and vomiting in 30% and gastrointestinal bleeding in 10% of the affected cases.…”