The sonographic characteristics of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma and its risk evaluation of cervical lymphatic metastasis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the sonographic characteristics of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC) and the preoperative prediction value for cervical lymphatic metastasis of PTMC. Methods Three hundred and fifty-eight PTMC patients who were confirmed by pathology and accepted partly or totally thyroidectomy and neck dissection were collected to analyze the sonographic characteristics, all patients were classified according to multifocal carcinoma nodules and solitary carcinoma nodules; cervical lymphatic metastasis or not; the maximum diameter of carcinoma nodules. Univariate analysis and Logistic regression analysis were used. Results Compared with solitary PTMC, multifocal PTMC was prone to emerge blood flow signals, heterogeneity, cervical lymphatic metastasis(all P 1 cm, irregular edge, irregular shape, microcalcification, capsular invasion(all P<0.05). With Logistic regression analysis, the independent risk factors of cervical lymphatic metastasis in PTMC were multifocality and capsular invasion. Combining multifocality and capsular invasion, which area under the ROC(AUC) was 0.807. Conclusions Combining multifocality and capsular invasion significantly improves the risk of cervical lymphatic metastasis in PTMC by ultrasonography. Key words: Ultrasonography; Thyroid neoplasms; Lymphatic metastasis