Giant platelets

What it means

Giant platelets are larger than 7 micrometers and usually 10 to 20 micrometers. The term giant platelet is used when the platelet is larger than the size of the average red cell in the field. (Description adapted from College of American Pathologists, Hematology Manual, 1998).

This phenotype may be present in myelodysplastic or myeloproliferative diseases and autoimmune thrombocytopenia (associated with severe leukemoid reactions). It may also be present in inherited diseases such as Bernard-Soulier syndrome or May-Hegglin anomaly.

Rare diseases that can present with this4

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category