Recalcification time in breast disease.

Hypercoagulability in malignant disease can be attributed, in part, to excess generation of tissue factor (thromboplastin) by the monocyte. Incubation of anticoagulated venous blood with endotoxin (a cellular activator) enables the generation of tissue factor by monocytes. The quantity of this procoagulant generated is determined by a simple recalcification time (a marker for cellular activation). Individuals with breast cancer have significantly shorter endotoxin-activated recalcification times than patients with cystic hyperplasia, who have, in turn, significantly reduced recalcification times when compared with those of healthy volunteers.