To evaluate plasma and tissue PTX3 levels in patients undergoing thyroidectomy for benign or malignant nodules.
Approach:
Study Design: A total of 52 patients were enrolled, with plasma PTX3 levels assessed by ELISA before and after surgery, and PTX3 expression evaluated via immunohistochemistry using a tissue microarray.
Key Findings:
PTX3 expression was significantly elevated in malignant tissues compared to healthy thyroid tissues, where it was absent (p<0.05).
Interpretation:
Increased PTX3 levels may indicate an active inflammatory response or tissue stress linked to thyroid nodular disease, but its specificity for distinguishing benign from malignant lesions remains undetermined.
Limitations:
The study does not establish the specificity of PTX3 for differentiating between benign and malignant thyroid nodules.
Further studies are needed to define the prognostic value of PTX3 in thyroid carcinoma.
Conclusion:
PTX3 plays an important role in innate immune activation and inflammation-driven thyroid tissue remodeling.
