title: The value of preoperative platelet count in the prediction of cervical involvement and poor prognostic variables in patients with endometrial carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relationship between preoperative platelet counts and prognostic factors extensively, among endometrial cancer patients, especially with respect to cervical involvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-hundred fifty-five patients with endometrial carcinoma, who underwent surgery as the initial treatment consisting peritoneal cytology, total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, systematic pelvic-paraaortic lymphadenectomy, and omentectomy were retrospectively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences with respect to age, histological type (endometrioid vs. non-endometrioid), depth of myometrial invasion, peritoneal cytology, LVSI, and lymphatic metastasis. However, advanced stage (stages III and IV), poorly differentiated tumor grade (grade 3), the presence of cervical and adnexal involvements were associated with significantly higher median preoperative platelet counts. Accepting 325.000/microl platelet count as a threshold value, multivariate analysis revealed cervical involvement (P=0.008; OR=1.84, 95% CI:1.17-2.89) and presence of high grade histology (P=0.014; OR=2.23, 95% CI:1.18-4.23, for grade 3 disease) to be significantly associated with higher platelet count. At a cut-off value of 326.000/microl, 42.3% sensitivity and 82.8% specificity for the prediction of cervical involvement was observed under receiver operator characteristic curve method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher preoperative platelet counts, even in conditions with normal range (150.000-400.000/microl), may reflect poor prognostic factors such as cervical involvement and high grade among patients with endometrial carcinoma. Also, the higher platelet count should be taken into consideration for the necessity of radical hysterectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Republic of Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayhan
authors.forename: Gurkan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bozdag
authors.forename: Cagatay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taskiran
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gultekin
authors.forename: Kunter
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yuce
authors.forename: Turkan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kucukali
mesh_terms: D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010388:Pelvis; D010976:Platelet Count; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery