Significance of preoperative thrombocytosis in epithelial ovarian cancer.
BACKGROUND
Reactive thrombocytosis is reported in a variety of solid tumors. A few studies have documented preoperative thrombocytosis in ovarian cancer and identified it as a marker of aggressive tumor biology.


OBJECTIVE
To study the incidence of preoperative thrombocytosis (platelets greater than 400x10) in epithelial ovarian cancer and its association with other clinicopathologic factors.


METHODS
Sixty-five patients with invasive ovarian epithelial cancer were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed for the association preoperative thrombocytosis with other clinical and histopathological prognostic factors. Means were analyzed by Student's t test; proportions were determined by Chi-square analysis.


RESULTS
Twenty of 65 (37.5%) patients had thrombocytosis at primary diagnosis. Patients with preoperative thrombocytosis were found to have lower hemoglobin (P < 0.0002), more advanced stage disease (P < 0.05) and higher grade tumors (P < 0.02). Patients with thrombocytosis had greater likelihood of subpotimal cytoreduction.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative thrombocytosis is a frequent finding in ovarian carcinomas and their association with advanced stage disease and higher grade denotes that platelets play a role in the tumor growth and progression.
Crasta
Julian A
JA
Department of Pathology, St. John's Medical College and Hospital, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore 560 034, Karnataka, India.
Premlatha
T S
TS
Krishnan
Suniti M
SM
Vallikad
Elizabeth
E
Rameshkumar
Karuna
K
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013922:Thrombocytosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor