[Systemic mastocytosis: significance of contemporary methods of imaging in diagnosis of this disease].

Mastocytosis is a rare disease characterized by increase in mast cell numbers. The most frequent organ identified as the site of increased numbers of mast cells is the skin. However, uncontrolled growth of mast cells may occur in many other organs and tissues; this disease is called systemic mastocytosis. Nowadays there are four categories of mast cell disease: 1) indolent mastocytosis, 2) mastocytosis with a hematologic disorder, 3) aggressive mastocytosis, and 4) mast cell leukemia. Although the diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis rests finally on identification of mast cells by histopathological examination of the involved tissues, radiological studies may suggest more decisive tests. In this paper the authors discuss usefulness of different methods of radiological imaging in the diagnostics of mastocytosis.