Does the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio have a prognostic value in aneurysmal bone cysts?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-tomonocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs).

Between February 2001 and August 2019, a total of 86 patients (44 males, 42 females; mean age: 21.5±15.2 years; range, 2 to 73 years) with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of ABCs who did not receive cancer treatment previously and had a minimum follow-up period of 24 months were retrospectively analyzed. Data including age, sex, side, tumor location, pre-treatment complete blood count analysis results, preferred surgical method, follow-up period, presence of recurrence, and date of recurrence were recorded. Preoperative NLR, LMR and PLR values were calculated in all patients.

The mean follow-up was 56.7±13.5 (range, 24 to 179) months. Forty-one (47.7%) ABCs were located in the lower extremities, 36 (41.8%) in the upper extremities, and nine (10.4%) in the pelvic girdle. A statistically significant difference was detected in the NLR values according to recurrence status (p=0.023). The PLR and LMR values were not significant for area under the curve, while NLR values were significant for recurrence. The cut-off value was determined as 2.054. Those with an NLR of ≥2.054 were found to have a 4.561-fold higher risk of recurrence than those with an NLR of <2.054 (odds ratio [OR]=4.561).

Our study results suggest that NLR, which is the pre-treatment inflammatory index, is a prognostic factor in patients with ABCs. Although NLR alone is not decisive in patients with elevated NLR, it can be used to evaluate the clinical prognosis and recommend an appropriate treatment strategy.