Comparison between the concentration of mast cells and risk criteria of malignancy in intestinal adenomas

Abstract

Intestinal adenomas are benign neoplasms that present a risk of malignancy associated with three independent characteristics: the polyp size, the histological architecture and the severity of epithelial dysplasia (or atypia). Current evidence suggests that mast cells (CM) contribute to the tumorigenesis of colorectal carcinomas. Objective: Compare the concentration of CM in intestinal adenomas and risk criteria for malignancy in these tumors (size, histological type and degree of cellular atypia). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study with 102 anatomopathological reports of intestinal adenoma excision. We selected paraffin blocks with the central area of the tumor. The CM were stained with toluidine blue. RESULTS: In most cases (89.2%, n=91), the mast cells concentration (MC) was less than 6 CM/10 high power field (HPF) (p=0.0001). Most adenomas, regardless of their histological type, showed 0 CM/10 HPF (p=0.083). In most adenomas, regardless of their size, MC was 0 CM/10 HPF (p=0.665). Presence or absence of atypia was associated, in most cases, with MC of 0 CM/10 HPF (p=0.524). Conclusion: This study did not show association between the MC and histological type, size or presence of atypical cells in intestinal adenomas.