Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in women with breast cancer.

The association of solid tumors with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is rare. However, there have been some case reports indicating an association between breast cancer and ITP. In this article four patients with breast cancer and ITP are mentioned. The diagnosis of breast cancer was based on the results of biopsy or surgical sample. The ITP diagnosis criteria were 1) exclusion of drug induced thrombocytopenia, 2) platelet count less than 140 × 109 /l with normal or increased number of megakaryocytes on bone marrow samples, and 3) absence of splenomegaly. In this case report an association of breast cancer and ITP is shown.