Systemic Mastocytosis

A 74‐year‐old Chinese male has had diffuse asymptomatic thickening, wrinkling, and mild hyperpigmentation of the skin with prominent skin markings and a leathery appearance over the neck, abdomen, flanks, and flexural area for forty years. Darter's sign was positive. Skin biopsy showed a dense band‐like infiltration of mast cells into the upper dermis. Mast cell infiltration into the bone marrow and liver was also proved histologically. Electron microscopic studies of the skin and liver specimens were performed. Related aspects of diffuse and systemic mastocytosis are discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first reported Chinese case of diffuse and systemic mastocytosis in English literature. A review of the literature on systemic mastocytosis is also included.