Evaluation of Hematological and Coagulation Parameters in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas: A Study at a Tertiary Care Centre

Introduction: Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and a major health problem in India accounting for 30% of all types of cancer. Platelet plays an essential role in physiological and pathological processes such as coagulation, inflammation and thrombosis. Platelet count (PC) and platelet indices (PI) such as, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet crit (PCT), platelet distribution width (PDW) and platelet large cell ratio (PLCR) are known to be affected in various clinical conditions and recently their role as an inflammatory marker in cancer cases is being studied. However, data regarding oral cancer is limited. Authors say activated platelets with higher volume are associated with increased thrombotic potential through the activation of the coagulation cascade. Objectives: To evaluate PC, platelet indices and coagulation profile in patients of oral cancers and compare them with healthy controls. Also, to study the relationship of platelet indices and coagulation parameters with clinicopathological framework in oral cancers. Results: Statistically strongly significant differences on comparing health individuals with oral cancer patients were observed in MCH, RBC, WBC, PDW, MPV and APTT. Furthermore, RBC count emerged as a parameter of significance between different histological grades of oral cancer. Conclusion: To summarise, simple and cost effective yet integral methods like platelet, haematological and coagulation parameters should be considered as an essential part of the work up of oral cancer patients in order to arrest delay in diagnosis henceforth propelling timely diagnosis, commencement of treatment and improving the overall prognosis of oral cancer patients. Key words: Oral cancer, Platelet indices, Coagulation cascade, Clinicopathological