Diagnostic value of ferritin in the differential diagnosis of malignant effusions


DEMİRKAZIK A., Dinçol D., Hastürk S., Arican A., Karaoǧuz H., Çay F., ...Daha Fazla

Cancer Biochemistry Biophysics, cilt.16, sa.3, ss.243-251, 1998 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 16 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 1998
  • Dergi Adı: Cancer Biochemistry Biophysics
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.243-251
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Ascitic fluid, Ferritin, Infection, Malignancy, Pleural effusion, Tuberculous
  • Lokman Hekim Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

The diagnostic value of ferritin in pleural effusions or ascites was studied in 151 samples from 147 patients (four patients had both kind of effusions). Samples (99 pleural effusions, 52 ascites) were evaluated in 4 groups: benign transudate (27 cases), benign nontuberculous exudate (26 cases), tuberculous exudate (47 cases) and malignant exudate (51 cases). Median ferritin levels in effusions were 67 ng/ml, 805 ng/ml, 889 ng/ml, 998 ng/ml and median effusion/serum (E/S) ratios were 0.7, 2.0, 4.9, 3.2 respectively. There was a significant difference between the concentrations of ferritin in malignant (51 cases) and nonmalignant effusions (100 cases) (p < 0.001), but the specifity and positive predictive value were low (43% and 45% respectively). Ferritin levels in transudate group were significantly lower than those in the others (p < 0.001). However, ferritin concentrations in three exudate groups were similar (p > 0.05). When compared the all inflammatory effusions (malignant, tuberculous, nontuberculous inflammatory exudates) with noninflammatory effusions (transudate and exudate), we determined a significant difference (p < 0.001). Conclusions: 1) Elevated ferritin concentration in effusions is significant indicators of exudates; 2) It is not good a parameter to discriminate the malignant effusions from the benign ones; 3) They can be useful in the differential diagnosis of the inflammatory exudations from the noninflammatory ones.