To explore the factors related to lateral lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and their predictive value
so as to provide reference for clinical treatment.
Methods:
A total of 158 PTMC patients who underwentsurgery in the Affiliate
d Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2022 to June 2023 were divided into non-metastatic group (95 cases) and metastatic group (63 cases) according to postoperative pathological results. Their clinical data and preoperative ultrasound data were analyzed and compared. Single factor analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to screen out the independent correlation factors of lateral lymph node metastasis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the prediction efficiency of each factor and the combined index.
Results:
The results of single factor analysis showed there were statistically significant differences in age
gender
maximum tumor diameter
location
transverse-longitudinal axis ratio >1
microcalcification
invasion capsule
ultrasonography indicating abnormal central lymph nodes
the ratio of length to diameter of lymph nodes in the lateral region≤2
uneven hilum of lymph node echo
cystic change
microcalcification
and marginal or mixed blood flow signals between the two groups (
P
<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age≤45 years
tumor in the upper pole
invasion of capsule
ultrasonography indicating abnormal central lymph nodes
and uneven hilum of lymph node echo of lateral lymph nodes were independent risk factors for lateral lymph node metastasis in PTMC patients. The sensitivity
specificity and accuracy of the combined index composed by independent risk factors in predicting lateral lymph node metastasis respectively were 81.0%
86.3% and 84.2%
and the area under ROC curve was 0.918.
Conclusion:
The combination of age
tumor location
capsular invasion
ultrasonography indicating abnormal central lymph nodes
and uneven hilum of lymph node echo of lateral lymph nodes can effectively predict the metastasis of lateral lymph nodes in PTMC patients
and provide help for the selection of clinical treatment.