Relationship Between Platelet Distribution Width and Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Thyroid nodules are the most common disease of the thyroid gland. The main objective of the present study was to provide an answer to one question: 'Is it possible to acquire information about malignancy potential of thyroid nodules using the tests readily available at all centers. METHODS: The present study retrospectively reviewed preoperative results of hemogram, biochemical parameters and pathology reports of a total 275 patients, who underwent bilateral total thyroidectomy procedure in the Department of General Surgery at Our faculty between 2014 and 2015. RESULTS: The mean age was 47.60 +- 12.79 (20-79) years. Of patients, 84.7% (233) were females and 14.9% (41%) were males. Of patients that underwent bilateral thyroidectomy, pathologic examination revealed nodular hyperplasia in 180 patients and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in 95 patients. TSH levels before surgery were lower in patients with nodular hyperplasia compared to patients with papillary thyroid cancer and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.003). There was no statistically significant difference in hematological parameters measured before surgery between the two groups. However, platelet distribution width was significantly higher in female patients with multicentricity compared to those without multicentricity (p=0.047). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The study suggests that hemogram and biochemical tests that are routinely performed in preoperative workup do not easily differentiate malignant lesions from the benign lesions. However, high platelet distribution width (PDW) may raise the suspicion of malignant lesions with multicentricity.

Keywords

• distribution width
• papillary thyroid cancer
• thyroid
• platelet