Thrombocytosis as a predictor of malignancy in women with a pelvic mass

OBJECTIVE: To determine if thrombosis (platelets > 350,000/muL) is a predic tor of malignancy in women with a pelvic mass. STUDY DESIGN: The charts of 323 patients who presented with a pelvic mass a nd subsequently underwent an exploratory laparotomy were reviewed for preop erative platelet count and final diagnosis. Thrombocytosis was defined as a platelet count >350,000/muL. The data were analysed utilizing the SPSS 6.1 software package (Chicago, Illinois); analysis of variance and chi (2) tes ts were used for data comparison. RESULTS: The difference in the platelet counts of patients with malignancy and benign tumors was statistically significant (P <.00001). Eighty-seven p atients had cancer; of these, 42 (48.3%) had thrombocytosis. Only 31 (13.8% ) patients with benign tumors had thrombocytosis. CONCLUSION: High preoperative platelet counts in women presenting with a pe lvic mass may predict a final diagnosis of cancer.