Objectives: Inflammatory markers such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been recently introduced as potential biomarkers for tumor pathogenesis, development and prognosis in solid tumors. Our aim was to assess the correlation of clinicopathological features and NLR and PLR in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods: A total of 201 papillary thyroid carcinoma patients were divided into groups with a cut-off preoperative median NLR and PLR value of 1,92 and 123.9, respectively. The correlation of NLR and PLR and clinicopathological features including age, tumor size, extra-thyroidal extension, thyroid capsule invasion, surgical margin positivity, multifocality, bilaterality of the patients were analyzed. Results: The mean NLR and PLR were 2.11±0.94, 129.69±42.81, respectively. Larger tumor size and higher positivity of extra-thyroidal spread were correlated with higher NLR values. No significant relationship was found between NLR and age, presence of thyroid capsule invasion, surgical margin positivity, multifocality, bilaterality, and lymph node metastasis. Also no significant association was observed between the clinicopathological features and PLR. Conclusion: High NLR was found to correlate with tumor size and extra-thyroidal extension. NLR may be used as a marker to determine the clinical behavior of disease in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

NUCLEAR MEDICINE AND MOLECULAR IMAGINGF-FDG PET-CT imaging, following a diagnostic contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT) performed within the last month, were included in our study. A total of 129 PET-CT images, and all radiologic, clinical, and pathological records of these patients were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTSIn total, 137 hypermetabolic extranodal infiltration sites were detected by 18 F-FDG PET-CT in 62 of 110 patients. There were no positive findings by CE-CT that reflected organ involvement in 40 of 137 18 F-FDG-positive sites. The κ statistics revealed fair agreement between PET-CT and CE-CT for the detection of extranodal involvement (κ=0.60). The organs showing a disagreement between the two modalities were the spleen, bone marrow, bone, and thyroid and prostate glands. In all lesions that were negative at CE-CT, there was a diffuse 18 F-FDG uptake pattern in the PET-CT images. The frequency of extranodal involvement was 51% and 58% in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients, respectively. There was a high positive correlation between the maximum standardized uptake values of the highest 18 F-FDG-accumulating lymph nodes and extranodal sites (r=0.67) in patients with nodal and extranodal involvement. CONCLUSION 18 F-FDG PET-CT is a more effective technique than CE-CT for the evaluation of extranodal involvement in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. PET-CT has a significant advantage for the diagnosis of diffusely infiltrating organs without mass lesions or contrast enhancement compared to CE-CT.

Objective:Accurate staging of head and neck cancer (HNC) plays an important role in patient management as well as protection of functional characteristics of the head and neck region. Our aim was to investigate the contribution of 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) as part of HNC staging to clinical evaluation and treatment planning.Methods:Clinical records of 138 HNC cases who has undergone 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging were retrospectively reviewed. Sixty-five cases who had accessible clinical follow-up data were included in the study group, and their PET/CT and conventional imaging findings were evaluated.Results:In the case group with a PET/CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for evaluation of primary lesion the sensitivity rates for PET/CT and MRI were calculated as 91.3% and 82.6%, the positive predictive values (PPV) as 91.3% and 82.6%, specificity as 71.4% and 42.8%, and the negative predictive value (NPV) as 71.4% and 42.8%, respectively. In terms of metastatic lymph node evaluation, the sensitivity was calculated as 100% and 88.8%, the NPV as 100% and 83.3%, respectively. The PPV and specificity was 100% for both modalities. In the case group with CT for primary lesion evaluation, the sensitivity and PPV were found as 95.2% and 100% for PET/CT, and as 85.7% and 94.7% for CT, respectively. in metastatic lymph node evaluation, the sensitivity was found as 100% for PET/CT and 50% for CT, and the PPV, specificity and NPV were determined as 100% for both methods. PET/CT findings resulted in a change in ‘tumor, node, metastasis’ staging in 5 cases.Conclusion:PET/CT in HNC contributes to staging, thus playing a role in treatment planning, especially in patients with locally advanced disease.

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Bone metastasis is common in advanced prostate cancer (PCa). Recently, there has been a growing interest in the potential role of inflammatory markers, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-monocyte ratio (NMR), in predicting advanced disease in patients with solid tumors. In the current study, we aimed to assess the relationship of bone metastasis detected on bone scintigraphy (BS) with NLR, PLR, and NMR in patients with Pca. Materials and Methods: The study group included 85 PCa patients. Patient characteristics, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values, Gleason score, histopathological features, presence of metastatic focus on BS and complete blood count values were retrospectively evaluated. The relationship of the presence of bone metastasis on BS with clinicopathological features such as PSA, Gleason score, histopathological findings and NLR, PLR and NMR values were investigated. Results: Median NLR, PLR and NMR were 2.90, 125.69 and 8.38, respectively. Thirty-six patients had metastatic disease on BS. Our findings showed a statistically significant relationship between high NLR value and the presence of bone metastasis (p=0.018) and high Gleason score (p=0.034). However, no significant statistical relationship was found between clinicopathological features and PLR and NMR values (p>0.05). Conclusion: Despite the limited number of patients, a significant relationship between high NLR and metastatic bone disease was found. While high NLR has been generally considered an independent risk factor for poor PCa prognosis, we assume that larger scale studies are warranted to assess its value as a prognostic indicator in PCa patients.