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The Predictive Value of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Diagnosis in Patients with Asymptomatic Cervical Lymphadenopathy

  • Mustafa ÇolakEmail author
  • Fakih Cihat Eravcı
  • Süleyman Emre Karakurt
  • Mehmet Fatih Karakuş
  • Aykut İkincioğulları
  • Kürşat Murat Özcan
Original Article
First Online:

Abstract

In patients with asymptomatic cervical lymphadenopathy, the physician often has to choose between evaluation via follow-up or open biopsy. Follow-up evaluation may lead to a delayed diagnosis of lymphoma, while an open biopsy is associated with surgical risks and costs. This dilemma can be avoided using predictive parameters. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a parameter which can be assessed quickly with ease and at low cost, has predictive value for Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis in patients with asymptomatic cervical lymphadenopathy. A total of 46 patients with asymptomatic cervical lymphadenopathy who underwent open biopsy were included in the study. Based on the biopsy results, the patients were divided into two groups, Hodgkin lymphoma (26 patients) and reactive lymphadenopathy (20 patients). The mean NLR in the groups was calculated and compared based on the results of complete blood count performed before biopsy. We found that mean NLR (P = 0.022) and mean neutrophil count (P = 0.046) were higher and mean lymphocyte count was lower (P = 0.054) in patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma compared to those in patients with reactive lymphadenopathy. Our results indicate that a high NLR may have predictive value for Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis in patients with asymptomatic cervical lymphadenopathy.

Keywords

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio Hodgkin lymphoma Lymphadenopathy Biopsy Predictive value 
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Notes

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical Rules

The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration and was approved with the 12/13/2018 dated and 18-2357 numbered permission by the Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital Corporate Ethics Committee.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Copyright information

© Association of Otolaryngologists of India 2019

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Health Sciences UniversityAnkara Numune Training and Research HospitalAnkaraTurkey

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