PLATELET-AGGREGATION IN HEAD AND NECK TUMORS IN CHINA

We measured the maximum aggregation rate (MAR) of platelets in 770 pat ients with malignant head and neck tumors, 55 patients with benign tum ors of the head and neck, and 164 healthy people as a control group. T he results were as follows: 1. the mean MAR value of patients with mal ignant tumors was significantly higher than the control group mean val ue; 2. prior to treatment, the mean MAR value increased with advancing tumor stage; 3. both MAR values of relapsed or metastasized patients and of nonsurvivors in stage III and IV increased significantly compar ed with survivors or patients recovering from malignant tumors. The re sults of the present study suggest that MAR values of patients with ma lignant tumors of the head and neck may serve as indicators in evaluat ing therapeutic procedures and prognosis.