Mustafa C. Şenoymak, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Health Sciences, Sultan Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Süleyman Baş, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Sancaktepe Şehit Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Murat Yeniçeri, Department of Rheumatology, University of Health Sciences, Bakırkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Kadem Arslan, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Sancaktepe Şehit Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Erdinç Yaman, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Sancaktepe Şehit Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Hasan H. Çoban, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Sancaktepe Şehit Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Dilek Yavuzer, Department of Pathology, University of Health Sciences, Sancaktepe Şehit Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Alpaslan Tanoğlu, Department of Internal Medicine, Bahçeşehir University, Faculty of Medicine Istanbul, Turkey
Objective: The study aimed to assess the predictive significance of inflammatory parameters as potential markers for malignancy in individuals with thyroid nodules. Method: Nine hundred and ninety-one patients with thyroid nodules who had undergone thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy were included and classified according to the Bethesda system. Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) values obtained from hemogram parameters were determined for each patient. The study examined the correlation between the Bethesda classification and NLR/SII levels. In addition, a comparison was made between the inflammatory parameters of the benign and malignant Bethesda groups. Results: Five hundred and seventy-three patients were classified as Bethesda 2 (benign), 34 as Bethesda 6 (malignant). A correlation was observed between the Bethesda classification and NLR and SII levels (r: 0.230, p < 0.001; r: 0.207 p < 0.001, respectively). NLR and SII values were significantly higher in the malignant group (p < 0.001). The cutoff value for SII in predicting benign and malignant thyroid nodules was 489.86 × 103/mm3 with a sensitivity of 88.2% and a specificity of 63.7%. The cutoff value for NLR for the same prediction was 2.06 with a sensitivity of 82.4% and a specificity of 83.4%. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that SII and NLR may be valuable prognostic markers for predicting the malignancy of thyroid nodules.
Keywords: Thyroid nodüle. Thyroid cancer. Fine needle aspiration biopsy. Systemic immune-inflammation index.