Preoperative lymphocyte count, neutrophil to lymphocyte and platelet to lymphocyte ratio predict the recurrence with progression and cancerization in vocal fold lesions-retrospective study

Abstract

Backgrounds: This study explored the contribution of peripheral blood markers in diagnosis and prognosis estimation of different stages of laryngeal dysplasia and early glottic cancer.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical, histopathological and laboratory data of 220 patients including hemoglobin, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte and platelet counts, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR).

Results: The mean hemoglobin level and platelets count showed differences between histopathological stages of lesions (p = 0.041 and 0.046, respectively). In patients with recurrent lesions mean level of lymphocyte count, NLR and PLR were significant in assessing progression and cancerization (p = 0.005, 0.028 and 0.023, respectively). The univariate analysis recognized level of PLR ≥ 141.74 as significant risk factor of the recurrence of vocal fold hypertrophic lesions (OR = 1.963).

Conclusions: The levels of blood cells and their ratios seem to be effective in predicting the recurrence of lesion and even more their potential role in indicating malignant progression.

Keywords: Blood markers; Laryngeal cancer; Laryngeal dysplasia; Lymphocyte count; Neutrophil count; Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio.