Significance of preoperative thrombocytosis in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background: Reactive thrombocytosis is reported in a variety of solid tumors. A few studies have documented preoperative thrombocytosis in ovarian cancer and identified it as a marker of aggressive tumor biology. Aim: To study the incidence of preoperative thrombocytosis (platelets greater than 400x10) in epithelial ovarian cancer and its association with other clinicopathologic factors. Materials and Methods: Sixty-five patients with invasive ovarian epithelial cancer were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed for the association preoperative thrombocytosis with other clinical and histopathological prognostic factors. Means were analyzed by Student's t test; proportions were determined by Chi-square analysis. Results: Twenty of 65 (37.5%) patients had thrombocytosis at primary diagnosis. Patients with preoperative thrombocytosis were found to have lower hemoglobin (P < 0.0002), more advanced stage disease (P < 0.05) and higher grade tumors (P < 0.02). Patients with thrombocytosis had greater likelihood of subpotimal cytoreduction. Conclusions: Preoperative thrombocytosis is a frequent finding in ovarian carcinomas and their association with advanced stage disease and higher grade denotes that platelets play a role in the tumor growth and progression.

Cytological features of lobular carcinoma of breast: how important are the intracytoplasmic lumina?

Lobular carcinoma is the most common pitfall in the cytodiagnosis of breast lesions. Of the cytological features described intracytoplasmic lumina are stressed by many authors as an important diagnostic feature. The present study aims at evaluating the importance of intracytoplasmic lumina in the cytodiagnosis of lobular carcinoma along with other cytological features. Fine needle aspirates from 11 cases of histologically proven classical lobular carcinomas of breast were reviewed. It was observed that the low cellularity, dispersed dyscohesive small cells, mild pleomorphism, nuclear moulding and Indian filing were the most important cytologic features which aid in the diagnosis of lobular carcinoma where as intracytoplasmic lumina were of little significance.