Mast cell profile in appendicitis

Today appendicitis remains the most common indication for emergency laparotomy, especially in the young. Mast cell is one of the most important cells of inflammation and acute appendicitis is triggered by Type-1 hypersensitivity reaction and infection is later consequence.

In the present study mast cell number & distribution in surgically resected appendix were studied to see variation in normal & inflamed appendix, in Department of pathology Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, Kalaburagi.

180 appendicectomy specimen received from Oct 2015 to Oct 2016. Routine Hematoxylin & Eosin section for histopathology and 1% aqueous toluidine blue was used to study mast cells.

These cases were divided into two groups, Group A: Acute appendicitis showing neutrophilic infiltration-Group A1, with eosinophilic infiltrate-Group A2 Group B: Chronic appendicitis showing lympho mononuclear infiltrate and fibrosis.

Mast cells were counted in 10 consecutive high power fields and number were assessed and recorded semi-quantitatively.

There is variation in mast cell counts in appendicitis as observed in present study. In acute appendicitis, mucosal and sub mucosal mast cell counts were decreased. Eosinophilic appendicitis showed increased number of eosinophils in mucosal and sub mucosal layer but mean mast cell counts were decreased. In chronic appendicitis was excessive lympho mononuclear infiltrate in mucosal and sub mucosal layer & mean mast cell counts were highest.

Our study concluded that acute appendicitis is IgE mediated type 1 hypersensitivity reaction and mast cells count showed variations in different form of appendicitis.