Thrombocytosis Associated With Malignant Disease

One hundred years have passed since Trousseau first made the observation that thrombosis may be found in association with cancer.¹ Episodes of embolism ² and thrombophlebitis,^3-5 may precede clinical evidence of certain tumors, and nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis is sometimes associated with neoplastic disease.⁶ The thrombophlebitis seen in patients with cancer is characterized as recurrent and migrating ^7,8 with involvement of multiple sites, including the upper trunk and arms.^4,7,9 Anticoagulation is usually ineffective in its control.^3,4 Tumors of the lung, ovary, stomach, and pancreas are believed to be most commonly associated with a thrombotic tendency.^4-10

The incidence of thrombophlebitis in patients with malignant disease is low,^11,12 and contributory factors often play a role in increasing the susceptibility of the cancer patient to the development of thromboses.¹² Conversely, only 3% to 5% of patients with evidence of thrombosis had cancer.^5,13

Since it is