Hey All;

I've had this weird round hard bump under my knuckle; it appeared a few weeks ago after a "TMEPisode". It hurts along with my hands when I get an attack. My son says he had a nurse friend look it up n they think its a mastocytoma... Does this sound familiar to anyone ? I was planning on seeing my allergist this week; guess Ill be calling in the morning. Just nervous
lori

  It could be a mastocytoma, or it could be inflammation of the joint from the TMEP episode you had.  I couldn't tell from the description if it was on the surface or inside.  Good idea to have it checked out.  If it's a single mastocytoma, it's a clump of mast cells, and usually they are surgically removed, requiring pre-medication with antihistamines and prednisone to make sure the patient doesn't react if the mast cells decide to let loose with mediators during the surgery.  I don't think this is considered major surgery, and most often they aren't malignant.

It could also be a mast cell hyperplasia, which is nothing more than a gathering of normal mast cells causing a situation of mere inflammation.   Either way, it´s NOT cancerous, so nothing to be horrendously worried about!!

However, it may be something else!!!  So you must get it checked out.


If it is a mastocytoma, which is rather unlikely since this usually appears with children and in this form, any kind of rubbing or running hot water or scratching is going to be dangerous for the mere manipulation of that mastocytoma will automatically dump tons of MC mediators into your blood stream.  This is one way you can know if it is a mastocytoma.  As Joan said, it´s a concentration of mast cells, but in this case it´s totally different from a MC hyperplasia in that a hyperplasia is a gathering of NORMAL mast cells and although they will react like any other NORMAL mast cell, by rubbing it or putting hot water, etc on it, you will NOT go into anaphylaxis due to the massive dumping of mediators.  With a mastocytoma YOU WILL!!  That is because a mastocytoma is a clumping of NEOPLASTIC mast cells and because they do not behave normally, they will then do a massive dump of their granules and thus put the patient into massive reacting as a result.

So, if you´ve been moving your hand around, having warm or hot water pouring over it, washing dishes, etc., and nothing has happened, then RELAX!!!! IT IS NOT A MASTOCYTOMA!!   It is something else then.  

Like I said, not everything can be blamed on masto and this needs to be investigated and perhaps biopsied, but if you´re not doing massive reacting just because you´ve been rubbing and using your hand with hot water and the like, then YOU DO NOT HAVE A MASTOCYTOMA! The chances of it are HIGHLY unlikely!

I hope this helps!

Lisa

Hi Lori!!

I'm glad that your doctor figured it out.   Being a cyst, however, that could trigger you being that cysts are caused by an infection process.  Your doctor should deal with this ASAP so as to aviod it triggering you.

As to the IgE allergy shots.  This is controversial but if you were to speak with Dr. Castells she would say to do it, yes.  I'm not quite certain as to the workings but since they help to dessensitize you, it should help to keep you from triggering so much in that you have a double whammy situation of having your IgE antibodies to things trigger your MCs and that would thus in turn also trigger the masto.  

Yet, I honestly think that this is something that is worth writing to Dr. Castells herself and asking about it.

Lisa

You´re so smart Joan!!   What a really smart ideia!!!