Objective:

To investigate the correlation between ultrasound characteristics of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid (PTC) and cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM).

Methods:

A cohort study on ultrasound features of PTC was conducted. A total of 166 pathological proven PTC patients were enrolled in this study. According to the presence or absence of CLNM

the PTC nodes were assigned into

CLNM-positive group and CLNM-negative group. The differences of baseline ultrasonographic and enhancement features were performed in CLNM-positive and CLNM-negative group to analyze the correlation between PTC ultrasound characteristics and CLNM.

Results:

Univariate analyses showed that tumor maximum diameter10 mm

irregular shape

disruption of capsule or distance less than 1 mm away from thyroid capsule

microcalcification and gross calcification

aspect ratio1

hyper- or iso-enhancement were more common in CLNM-positive group than those in CLNM-negative group (

2

=25.742

22.154

61.279

6.678

4.070

4.978

22.126; all

P

＜0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that irregular shape and distance between tumor and thyroid capsule were independent risk factors of CLNM (both

P

＜0.05).

Conclusion:

Irregular shape

the disruption of capsule or distance less than 1 mm away from thyroid

hyper-vascular and hyper- or iso-enhancement are valuable ultrasonographic characteristics in predicting CLNM for PTC patients which may play a role in clinical decision .