Background and Objectives: Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a routinely available blood marker that measures platelet size and activation, and it has been evaluated as a potential marker for thyroid malignancies. Platelets participate in tumor genesis through angiogenesis, immune evasion, and metastasis, making them plausible adjuncts for cancer risk evaluation. The objective is to systematically evaluate the role of MPV in thyroid cancers, with the main focus on diagnostic accuracy, prognostic value, and limitations, focusing on papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Materials and Methods: A systematic search of PubMed was conducted from January 2015 to September 2025. Only free full-text studies on human subjects were included. Eligible studies included case–control, cohort, or observational designs reporting MPV or platelet indices in thyroid cancer compared with benign nodules or healthy controls. Data on diagnostic performance, associations with tumor stage, lymph node involvement, and recurrence were extracted and synthesized narratively. No formal risk-of-bias or study quality assessment tool was applied. The literature search was restricted to studies with freely available full-text articles, which may have introduced access-based selection bias. Results: Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Most of them reported high MPV values in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), with limited evidence regarding other thyroid cancer subtypes. High values of MPC were reported in the majority of studies in PTC compared to benign nodules or healthy controls. The diagnostic performance of MPV alone was poor, but integration with inflammatory ratios such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) or platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and with ultrasound systems (TI-RADS), improved accuracy. Regarding prognostic utility, some studies linked higher MPV with lymph node involvement or recurrence risk, while others did not find significant data. Thyroid function, autoimmune thyroid disease, and methodological variability in MPV measurement limited comparability across studies. Conclusions: MPV is a low-cost adjunct biomarker, especially when combined with other hematologic and imaging markers. However, MPV should not be used as a stand-alone diagnostic or prognostic tool. Larger, prospective studies are mandatory to clarify its clinical role.

Background and Objectives: Benign vocal fold lesions (BVFLs) are common causes of persistent dysphonia, but recurrence estimates are influenced by lesion type, outcome definition, and follow-up. We evaluated recurrence after documented lesion resolution and explored clinical factors and surgical technique. Materials and Methods: We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study of 214 adults with a first documented BVFL diagnosis between January 2022 and December 2024. Clinical records were reviewed through January 2026. Recurrence was defined as lesion reappearance after documented resolution at the initial post-treatment laryngeal assessment; persistent lesions were classified separately. Results: Follow-up was documented in 142 patients (66.4%). Initial lesion resolution was documented in 135 patients, of whom 23 developed recurrence (17.0%); 7 patients had persistent disease at the initial post-treatment assessment. No evaluated demographic or clinical factor was significantly associated with recurrence in univariate analyses. In the secondary exploratory surgical analysis, recurrence occurred in 7/29 patients treated with cold instruments (24.1%) and 3/27 treated with CO₂ laser (11.1%; OR 2.55, 95% CI 0.58–11.08; Fisher exact p = 0.299). Conclusions: Documented recurrence after initial lesion resolution occurred in 17.0% of patients. The surgical technique comparison was underpowered and unadjusted and does not establish superiority of either technique. Variable follow-up and differential attrition should be considered when interpreting the recurrence proportion.

Background: Cervicofacial actinomycosis is an uncommon chronic bacterial infection that can mimic neoplasia or granulomatous disease because of its infiltrative presentation. Diagnosis is often delayed, particularly in pregnant patients in whom imaging and invasive procedures may be limited. Case report: A 25-year-old woman at 14 weeks of gestation presented with a multiple-fistulized cervical mass. The lesion was initially diagnosed as a cutaneous furuncle in a private dermatology practice and treated with topical therapy, resulting in only transient improvement. Two weeks later, multiple fistulizations developed, prompting consultation in the emergency department. ENT assessment and ultrasound raised suspicion of cervical actinomycosis versus fistulized tuberculous lymphadenitis. Considering the pregnancy, drainage of the collection was performed under local anesthesia and empiric antibiotic therapy with amoxicilin-clavulanic acid was started. Microbiological confirmation of Actinomyces (Schaalia) georgiae led to infectious disease evaluation that established a long-term antibiotic therapy while monitoring fetal safety. Progressive clinical improvement was observed, with complete resolution after three months. The pregnancy progressed without complications and fetal morphology remained normal under therapy. Conclusions: This case illustrates the diagnostic complexity of cervicofacial actinomycosis caused by A. georgiae during pregnancy, representing the first such report in the current literature, and emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary approach.