ALB and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes: PNI values were significantly associated with age (p <  0.001), BMI (p <  0.001), white blood cell counts (p = 0.004), red blood cell counts (p = 0.004), tumor size and depth (p <  0.001), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.010), pStage (p <  0.001), intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.009), serum albumin concentrations (p <  0.001), and C-reactive protein levels (p <  0.001).