title: Thrombocytosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thrombocytopenia has been reported to be both a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development as well as a prognostic factor. Many HCCs also occur in presence of normal platelets.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine a cohort of HCC patients with associated thrombocytosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records were examined of a cohort of 634 biopsy-proven and randomly presenting HCC patients without thrombocytopenia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the total cohort, 52 patients were identified with thrombocytosis (platelet levels >400 × 10(9)/L) and compared with 582 patients with normal platelet values. The average tumor sizes were 13.1 versus 8.8 cm (p < 0.0001), and their total average bilirubin levels were 0.9 versus 1.5 (p = 0.02), comparing thrombocytosis patients versus normal platelet count HCC patients. These differences were even more pronounced in patients with HCC sizes >5 cm. Thrombocytosis patients were younger and had less cirrhosis, but similar percent with hepatitis B or C or alcohol consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thrombocytosis in association with HCC occurs in patients with larger tumor sizes and better liver function.
authors: Department of Nutritional Carcinogenesis, IRCCS S. de Bellis, National Institute for Digestive Diseases, Via Turi 27, 70013, Castellana Grotte, BA, Italy. brianicarr@hotmail.com
authors: Brian I
authors: BI
authors: Carr
authors: Vito
authors: V
authors: Guerra
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013922:Thrombocytosis / Q000150:complications*; D047368:Tumor Burden
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor