A proposed classification of mastocytosis incorporating molecular genetics.

As an understanding of the molecular genetic causes of different forms of mastocytosis is developed, the therapy of choice may depend on the specific genetic abnormalities expressed by a patient's neoplastic mast cells. The authors propose a new classification system for mastocytosis that incorporates both molecular-genetic and clinical data. This system provides a theoretic framework for mast cell researchers and helps practicing physicians in estimating prognosis and determining therapeutic options for individual patients.