title: [Significance of detecting serum tumor supplied group of factors in differential diagnosis of neck masses].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It was reported that serum tumor supplied group of factors (TSGF) were useful in differential diagnosis of various benign and malignant tumor. However, there was little report involving the differential diagnosis of neck masses. This study was designed to evaluate the significance of serum TSGF in differential diagnosis of neck masses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum TSGFs on the samples from 128 patients with neck masses were detected by immunohistochemistry. Forty seven non-tumor patients served as control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum TSGF level and positive rate in various malignant group (including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, non-Hodgkin's disease, and metastatic carcinoma which primary lesion remained unknown) were higher than that in benign mass group (including cervical lymphoadenitis, or reactive hyperplasia, and neck lymphoid tuberculosis without general active tuberculosis), with very significant difference (all P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between two benign masses or neck benjgn masses or neck benign masses and non tumor patients (all P > 0.05). The differential diagnosis parameters of positive serum TSGF for neck malignant masses were: sensitivity 78.16%, specificity 75.61%, efficiency 77.34%, positive predictive value [PV(+)] 87.18%, negative predictive value [PV(-)] 62.00%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Determination of serum TSGF was useful in differential diagnosis of neck masses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck, Cancer Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Guo-qian
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.forename: Rong-ning
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Li-gen
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Mo
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D009333:Neck; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor