Significance of Thrombocytosis in Epithelial Ovarian Tumors

Thrombocytosis has been reported in association with ovarian tumors and is often a poor prognostic factor. The present study aims to study the incidence of pre-operative thrombocytosis in epithelial ovarian tumors and to correlate it with anemia, serum CA-125 levels, presence or ascites, FIGO staging and tumor histology. Total 160 cases of resected specimens of surface epithelial ovarian tumors (SEOT) received in department of Pathology, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore were studied. The preoperative platelet count, haemoglobin levels and serum CA-125 levels were collected. The presence and degree of ascites was assessed. International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (FIGO) staging was done. The incidence of thrombocytosis and its correlation with the presence of anaemia, elevated CA-125 levels, FIGO stage and presence and degree of ascites among malignant cases were statistically analysed. The incidence of pre-operative thrombocytosis was noted more in malignant SEOTs 80% (40/160). The mean pre-operative platelet count in the present study was 321X10 9 /L. It was more prevalent in serous epithelial ovarian tumors (83.3%) and these findings were statistically significant (p=0.0001). There was a statistically significant association of pre-operative thrombocytosis with the presence and degree of ascites and advanced FIGO staging (p=0.0001). Pre-operative thrombocytosis is a frequent finding in malignant SEOTs and is associated with other prognostic markers. This implies that thrombocytosis is probably a marker of tumor aggressiveness, and that platelet may have a role in cancer growth and progression. Thus, presence of pre-operative thrombocytosis has significance as a poor prognosticator in epithelial ovarian tumors. Key-wordsThrombocytosis, Surface Epithelial Ovarian Tumors (SEOT), CA 125, FIGO staging INTRODUCTION Thrombocytosis refers to platelet count above the normal value (>400x10 9 /L). Thrombocytosis can be primary or secondary. Malignancy is one of the most important causes of secondary thrombocytosis. [1-2] The association between thrombocytosis and malignancies is known. [3] Thrombocytosis has been reported in variety of neoplastic diseases including Hodgkin lymphoma, sarcoma and several solid tumors such as lung, renal, gastric, breast, pancreatic, colonic, and gynecological malignancies. [4-8] In ovarian cancer thrombocytosis is a poor prognostic factor in locally advanced disease. [9-10] Chalas et al. [11] found thrombocytosis in 56% of the reviewed cases of epithelial ovarian malignancies. The etiology of neoplastic megakaryopoiesis remains unclear, it might be related to increased platelet production are due to certain cytokines (IL-6, IL-1) and growth factors released by malignant cells. [7] Access this article online Quick Response Code Website: