The predictive role of thrombocytosis in identifying patients with advanced lung carcinoma in an urban medical center

Study Objectives: Lung carcinoma is leading cause of death from cancer, thus an important subject for review. Lung carcinoma is associated with various prognostic factors including both clinical and objective findings; therefore, a review of thrombocytosis regarding predicting stage at initial diagnosis was prompted. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review of 180 patients diagnosed with lung carcinoma at Saint Michael's Medical Center between 2009 and 2013 and comparison with platelet level at time of diagnosis. The pathological diagnosis of lung cancer was made by either trans-bronchial or CT guided biopsy. Design: A retrospective chart review of 180 patients diagnosed with lung carcinoma at Saint Michael's Medical Center between 2009 and 2013 and comparison with platelet level at time of diagnosis. Results: No statistical significance was determined between advanced (including advanced staging of small cell lung cancer [SCLC] and Stage IIIb-IV of non-SCLC [NSCLC]) lung cancer staging and elevated platelet level (P = 0.078 and confidence interval [CI] of −89.103–4.774). However, on a subgroup analysis of cases including only NSCLC showed a statistically significant difference between limited and advanced stages (P = 0.0.18 and CI of −95.756–9.104). Conclusions: Thrombocytosis is associated with various neoplasms, included lung cancer as indicated in this retrospective study. In fact, thrombocytosis has been implicated with advanced staging of both SCLC and NSCLC, therefore indicating poor outcomes and mortality.