Diagnostics Role of Haematological Parameters in Benign and Malignant Breast Lesions: A Retrospective Observational Study from a Tertiary Healthcare Centre in Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy diagnosed in women, and despite advancements in diagnosis and treatment, it still leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Distinguishing between benign and malignant breast disease is clinically challenging, and there is currently no serum biomarker available for early breast cancer detection. As part of the preoperative work-up for breast lesions, a Complete Blood Count (CBC) analysis is typically performed. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the utility of CBC parameters in diagnosing malignant breast lesions and to analyse the diagnostic role of haematological parameters within benign and malignant breast lesions, as well as different histological breast cancer stages. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted for one year, from January to December 2021, at the Department of Pathology of PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. The study included 60 female patients with both benign and malignant breast lesions. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnoses of these lesions. CBC parameters, including haemoglobin, Total White Cell Count (TWBC), neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, monocyte count, platelet count, and Mean Platelet Volume (MPV), were collected from a total of 120 cases. Additionally, the Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), MonocyteLymphocyte Ratio (MLR), and Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) were calculated from the obtained CBC parameters for all cases. The values were expressed as mean and standard deviation, and an independent t-test was used to compare the two groups. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Malignant breast lesions showed a significant increase in neutrophils (64.1±8.4%) and a significant decrease in lymphocytes (25.9±8%) and MPV (7.6±0.76 pg) compared to benign breast cases. The calculated ratios, such as NLR (2.9±1.7), MLR (0.32±0.2), and PLR (14.4±8), were also found to be increased in malignant cases. However, there were no significant variations in CBC parameters across the various stages of breast malignancy. Conclusion: Among the CBC parameters evaluated, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, MPV, NLR, MLR, and PLR were significantly altered in breast malignancy compared to benign breast masses. Measuring CBC parameters and their derived ratios are fast, simple, inexpensive, and readily available method that can assist physicians in predicting breast malignancy.