title: The Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Correlates with Age in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and clinicopathological features in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an analysis of 843 patients, including 321 patients with PTC, 83 patients with thyroid adenoma and 439 patients with nodular goiter (NG). Thyroglobulin and thyrotropin were measured in each patient. Neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets were counted. Statistical analysis was used to correlate the NLR with demographic and histopathologic characteristics of the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age correlated with NLR and lymphocyte number in patients with PTC and NG. In patients aged >45 years, those with PTC had a higher NLR and a lower lymphocyte count than those with NG. Patients with PTC aged <45 years had a higher leukocyte count and a lower NLR than those aged ≥45 years. Patients with clinical stage I/II PTC had a lower NLR and a higher lymphocyte count than patients with stage III/IV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Younger patients with PTC had a higher lymphocyte count but a lower NLR than older patients with PTC. The NLR and lymphocyte counts were associated with the clinical stage. Thus, a higher NLR and a lower lymphocyte count may be prognostic for stratifying patients with thyroidal goiters and are risk factors of PTC for older patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Jifeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jintao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Jinchuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shaoxin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhaohui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yongcong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Chunhua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Guiquan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin; D013954:Thyroglobulin