Preoperative elevated platelet count and thrombocytosis in gynecologic malignancies.

PURPOSE: Platelets have multiple functions and they also play an important role in malignancies. Elevated platelet count and thrombocytosis at the time of diagnosis in patients with many solid tumors correlates with prognosis and is associated with poor survival. The aim of the following report is to review the literature concerning elevated platelet count and thrombocytosis in gynecologic malignancies.

METHOD: A PubMed search of all English literature peer-reviewed publications was performed containing the terms elevated platelet count or thrombocytosis and vulvar cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer. All studies published until December 31, 2015, were included in the following review.

RESULTS: A pretreatment elevated platelet count and thrombocytosis have been shown to be associated with a poor prognosis in many studies of gynecologic malignancies with the exception of vulvar carcinoma.

CONCLUSION: Since elevated platelet count and thrombocytosis may be prevented by blocking thrombopoietic cytokines, their assessment may, in the future, be of therapeutic significance.