Observations of the pathology of clubbed fingers with special reference to mast cells.

Mast cell counts were made, in tissue samples of normal and clubbed fingers obtained at autopsy, to investigate the possibility that mast cells act as an intermediary in the development of finger clubbing. Quantitative measurements of the composition of the tissues of the normal and clubbed nail bed were also made. The only significant difference in mast cell numbers in clubbed fingers was a decrease in mast cells in the tissues just superficial to the nail. The appearance of the mast cells was normal. The porportion of blood vessels and other tissues was not significantly different from normal.