Anesthetic management of an infant with a solitary mastocytoma.

Abstract

Solitary mastocytoma is one of the variants of mastocytosis, which is a rel­ atively rare disorder characterized by ab­ normal aggregates of mast cells in the dermis and in various organs of the body". The process of mastocytosis may be con­ fined to the skin (cutaneous mastocytosis) or may involve multiple organs (systemic mastocytosis}", Abnormal aggregations of mast cells release vasoactive mediators such as histamine, heparin and prostaglandin D2 (PGD2 ) and produce a lifethreaten­ ing state, because of acute and profound hypotension". One of the most interesting aspects to an anesthetist is the effect of drugs administered perioperatively on mast cell degranulation and chemical mediator released. Although mastocytoma is usually seen only in infants", there are few reports on anesthetic management for children with mastocytoma. We present a case of an infant patient with a solitary mastocytoma who required surgical therapy, and was ad­ ministered ketotifen, a mast cell stabilizer, as a preoperative treatment.