title: The significance of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as a possible marker of underlying papillary microcarcinomas in thyroidal goiters: a pilot study.
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.
authors: 2nd Department of Surgery, 401 General Army Hospital of Athens, Kallithea, Athens, Greece. babismed@gmail.com
authors: Charalampos
authors: C
authors: Seretis
authors: Stavros
authors: S
authors: Gourgiotis
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Gemenetzis
authors: Fotios
authors: F
authors: Seretis
authors: Emmanuel
authors: E
authors: Lagoudianakis
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Dimitrakopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D013965:Thyroidectomy
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor