A case of secondary thrombocytosis occurring postoperatively in a patient with carcinoma of the floor of the mouth

Abstract

A case of severe thrombocytosis that occurred postoperatively in a 65-year-old man with carcinoma of the floor of the mouth is reported. The platelet count started to increase 7 days after operation, and it reached a peak (100.7×10⁴μl) on the 15th postoperative day. The patient suffered from mild liver dysfunction with slight increases in hepatic enzymes (GOT: 64 1U, GPT: 43 Ill and γ-GTP: 398 Ill) just before the onset of thrombocytosis. Only platelets, and not other blood cell counts, were affected. The interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in the frozen stored sera of the patient were examined retrospectively. An overt rise and fall of the serum IL-6 level, with a peak value of 135pg/ml (normal:< 5 pg/ml), were observed before the increase in the platelet count. Thus, the possible involvement of thrombocytopoietic factors such as IL-6 was considered in the pathogenesis of the present cause of thrombocytosis.