Neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio between benign and malignant thyroid nodule

Objectives: To determine the relationship of Neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio (NLR) values with the benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Methods: In this cross-sectional clinical study conducted from September 1st 2020 to February 28th 2021, we included 216 patients who underwent thyroidectomy at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi Pakistan. After thyroidectomy specimens were sent for pathologic examination. Patients were divided into two categories based on histopathologic results; Malignant nodule and benign nodules. Data of complete blood count was obtained from the pre-operative lab investigations and NLR was calculated.

Results: There were 42 (26%) men, and 116 (74%) women of 158 in the BTN group, 18 (31%) men, and 40 (69%) women of 58 in the MTN group. The mean age of 48±6 years in the BTN group as well as 47 ±8 years in the MTN group (p-value 0.32). The mean neutrophil count in the BTN group was 4.26±2.8 versus 4.41±2.2 (x 1000/mm3) the malignance thyroid group (p-value = 0.71). The mean lymphocyte count was 3.81±0.9 (x 1000/mm3) in the BTN group and 3.61±1.2 (x 1000/mm3) in the malignance group (p-value = 0.18). The mean NLR value for the benign thyroid nodular group was 1.19±2.2 and 1.22±1.8 in the malignant thyroid nodular group (p-value = 0.92).

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, we concluded that preoperative period biochemistry laboratory results such as neutrophils count, lymphocyte count, and NLR value don’t provide enough evidence to differentiate between benign and malignant thyroid carcinoma.