Role of Platelet Counts in Prognostication of Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background:Squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck region is a common malignancy in India. To reduce the morbidity and mortality due to this malignancy newer prognostic markers are required. Pre-treatment thrombocytosis is a poor prognostic marker. Material & Methods: Present study is a prospective, cross sectional, analytical 3 years study undertaken in Department of Pathology, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, from June 2012 to May 2015. Pre-treatment platelet counts, age, gender site, tumor size, grade, stage, lymph node involvement, degree of penetration & vascular invasion were correlated and studied to find association between mean platelet count and individual parameters. Result: 107 cases of Head &Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma were studied. Mean age was 58 years with men most commonly affected and most patients being in stage II. Majority of the tumors were in oral cavity. Statistical correlation was done of mean platelet count with gender, age, site and lymph node involvement, degree of penetration, distant metastasis & presence of vascular involvement. Significant correlation was observed between platelet count, lymph node involvement and degree of differentiation. Patients having higher platelet count had unfavourable prognosis.