INTRODUCTION: We aimed to compare red cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), and some other laboratory parameters in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) or benign thyroid nodule (BTN).
METHODS: A total of 365 cases (186 with PTC and 179 with BTN) who underwent lobectomy or bilateral total thyroidectomy were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups, PTC and BTN, according to histopathological diagnosis.
RESULTS: 76.4% of the patients were female and the mean age was 54.94±13.76 years. The median RDW value was 13.3% (12.7–13.9) in the PTC group and 13.2% (12.7–14.2%) in the BTN group. Mean MPV value was 10.28±1.20 fL in the PTC group and 10.26±1.07 fL in the BTN group. The groups were similar in terms of MPV and RDW values (p=0.477 and p=0.883, respectively). Thyroid gland size and detected nodule sizes were significantly greater in the BTN group compared to the PTC group (p<0.001 for all).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Complete blood count results, including RDW and MPV, were found to have no clinical value in distinguishing between PTC and BTN.