Neutrophil to Lymphocyte ratio in the diagnosis of adnexal torsion

Adnexal torsion (AT) is a condition in which there is sometimes difficulty in making a preoperative diagnosis since there are no routine laboratory markers and this condition is usually intraoperatively diagnosed. Many of the studies have indicated that the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a significant inflammatory marker in various diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of the NLR on the diagnosis of AT. Patients surgically treated for AT were analysed retrospectively. A total of 27 AT patients were included in the study (Group 1). Another 30 patients who were surgically treated for a unilateral ovarian mass and did not have torsion or malignity on the final histopathological examination were assigned to the control group (Group 2). White blood cells (WBCs), neutrophils, lymphocytes and the NLR were compared between groups. The mean WBC values for Groups 1 and 2 were 9.7 ± 1.8 and 7.6 ± 1.5 K/µL (P < 0.001), respectively. The mean neutrophil values were also significantly higher in Group 1 (P < 0.001). However, the mean lymphocyte values were significantly higher in Group 2 (P < 0.001). Mean NLR was significantly higher in Group 1 (P < 0.001). Sensitivity and specificity of WBC > 8.8 were 83.3% and 74.1%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of NLR > 3 were 88.9% and 100%, respectively. Furthermore, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.933 for the NLR and 0.830 for WBC. With respect to the diagnosis of adnexal torsion, an NLR > 3 was identified as a more sensitive marker than the high WBC count. Therefore, an NLR > 3 seems to be a valuable marker in cases where it is difficult to diagnose AT.