The significance of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as a possible marker of underlying papillary microcarcinomas in thyroidal goiters: a pilot study

• Published in: The American journal of surgery Vol. 205; no. 6; pp. 691 - 696
• Main Authors: Seretis, Charalampos, M.D., M.Sc, Gourgiotis, Stavros, M.D., Ph.D, Gemenetzis, George, M.D, Seretis, Fotios, Lagoudianakis, Emmanuel, M.D., Ph.D, Dimitrakopoulos, George, M.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-06-2013; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Aged; Autoimmune diseases; Benign; Biomarker; Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Blood; Cancer; Carcinoma, Papillary - blood; Case-Control Studies; Female; Gastric cancer; Goiter; Goiter - surgery; Hernias; Humans; Immune system; Incidental Findings; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; Neutrophils - metabolism; Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma; Pilot Projects; Preoperative Period; Retrospective Studies; Surgery; Thyroid; Thyroid cancer; Thyroid Neoplasms - blood; Thyroidectomy; Biomarker; Goiter; Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma; Thyroid; Cancer
• ISSN: 0002-9610; 1879-1883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2012.08.006

Abstract Background Preoperatively elevated neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a negative prognostic factor of survival in various types of cancers. A retrospective study was conducted to examine if preoperative elevation of NLR is associated with higher risk for incidental papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Methods The study sample consisted of 26 patients with benign goiters, 31 patients with incidental PTMC, 26 patients preoperatively diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and 26 healthy controls. NLRs were compared regarding thyroidal pathology. Results The mean preoperative NLR was significantly elevated in patients with PTMC and thyroid cancer. In addition, the third and fourth quartiles of NLR included only patients with either PTMC or thyroid cancer. No significant differences in NLR occurred between patients with multifocal and unifocal PTMC. Conclusions NLRs were significantly elevated in patients with incidental PTMC and thyroid cancer. The findings of this pilot study indicate that NLR should be considered an easily accessible biomarker for detecting incidental PTCM; nevertheless, further studies are required to confirm these preliminary results.