Pretreatment Neutrophil‐Lymphocyte Ratio in Salivary Gland Tumors Is Associated with Malignancy

Abstract

To assess pretreatment levels in the counts and percentages of leukocytes and the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in benign and malignant salivary gland tumors (SGTs) while investigating whether NLR is an inflammatory marker for distinguishing low- from high-grade parotid gland tumors. Case series with chart review. Tertiary referral center. This study was performed on 182 patients with SGTs (age range: 16-87 years; 93 male and 89 female) who were treated between January 2010 and May 2015. Pretreatment counts and percentages of leukocytes and NLR were measured preoperatively in benign and malignant tumors. Mean neutrophil percentage (63.50% ± 12.11% vs 58.76% ± 8.20%, P = .008) and NLR (3.29 ± 3.13 vs 2.13 ± 1.26, P = .008) were significantly higher in patients with malignant SGTs than in patients with benign SGTs. Mean lymphocyte count (2.42 ± 0.72 103/mm3 vs 1.97 ± 0.87 103/mm3, P < .001) and percentage (30.67% ± 7.68% vs 26.86% ± 10.15%, P = .011) were lower in patients with malignant SGTs than in patients with benign SGTs. Mean lymphocyte percentage and NLR were significantly different between low- and high-grade malignant parotid gland tumors (P = .026 and P = .030, respectively). Elevated NLR could be an inflammatory marker to distinguish low- from high-grade malignant parotid gland tumors.