Can Hemogram Parameters Be Used as a Biomarker for Thyroid Carcinomas?

Recently, there have been studies on various parameters that can be used to diagnose and follow up thyroid malignancies. These parameters are mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR), and different results have been reported regarding their diagnostic and prognostic effects. Therefore, there is a need for more comprehensive studies on the use of these parameters in diagnosis and follow-up. In this study, we planned to reveal whether MPV, NLR, PLR, and LMR can be used as biomarkers for thyroid carcinomas and whether they differ according to tumor type and size.

A total of 242 patients aged 18-79 years who underwent thyroidectomy between October 2016 and December 2021 were included in this study. The following variables were analyzed retrospectively: age, sex, pathology results of thyroidectomy materials, and parameters such as MPV, NLR, PLR and LMR of the preoperative complete blood count. The patients included in the study were divided into two groups according to malignant and benign thyroidectomy pathologies. Group 1 (n = 160): Benign pathology. Group 2 (n = 82): Malignant pathology.

NLR and PLR were found to be significantly higher in the patients in Group 2 compared to the patients in Group 1 (p = 0.042 and p = 0.003). For the NLR value, sensitivity was calculated as 67.07%, Specificity as 48.75, and cut-off value as >1.503. Area Under Curve (AUC) value for NLR: 0.580. For the PLR value, sensitivity was calculated as 48.78%, Specificity as 70.62, and cut-off value as >111.429. AUC value for PLR: 0.615. A high level, positive and statistically significant correlation was detected between NLR and PLR in patients with tumor size ≥10 mm within Group 2 (r = 0.548, p < 0.001).

We believe that NLR and PLR values may be important predictive biomarkers for thyroid malignancies. As consistent with the literature, NLR and PLR values were statistically significant in our study. An NLR value of >1.503 and a PLR value of >111.429 can be considered a risk factor for thyroid malignancy.