Major Requirement and Minor Requirements
The world health organization’s criteria require you to meet the major requirements or at least four minor requirements. Major requirement includes clusters of over 15 mast cells in bone marrow biopsies. Minor requirements include;
- At least 25 percent of mast cells are abnormal measure in the bone marrow.
- KIT gene mutation at codon 816 in bone marrow or other internal organs.
- Mast cells have CD2 or CD25.
- Baseline serum tryptase level greater than 20ng/mL.
To diagnose systemic mastocytosis and MCL, an oncologist may require a bone marrow biopsy. This occurs when a small tissue sample is taken by a long needle, mostly from the hip bone. In some cases, the doctor may take the biopsy of other affected organs.
Health professionals can use your biopsy sample to search for certain genes that are common in people with MCL. They will do tests to measure the density and appearance of the mast cells.
A blood test is done to search for signs of mast cell leukemia such as;
- Low platelet levels
- Low albumin levels
- High tryptase levels
- High white blood cell count
- High histamine levels
- Low red blood cell count