Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis Group Research Articles

Evaluation of Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Using Clinical-Ultrasound Radiomic Machine Learning-Based Model

We aim to develop a clinical-ultrasound radiomic (USR) model based on USR features and clinical factors for the evaluation of cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). This retrospective study used routine clinical and US data from 205 PTC patients. According to the pathology results, the enrolled patients were divided into a non-CLNM group and a CLNM group. All patients were randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 143) and a validation cohort (n = 62). A total of 1046 USR features of lesion areas were extracted. The features were reduced using Pearson's Correlation Coefficient (PCC) and Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) with stratified 15-fold cross-validation. Several machine learning classifiers were employed to build a Clinical model based on clinical variables, a USR model based solely on extracted USR features, and a Clinical-USR model based on the combination of clinical variables and USR features. The Clinical-USR model could discriminate between PTC patients with CLNM and PTC patients without CLNM in the training (AUC, 0.78) and validation cohorts (AUC, 0.71). When compared to the Clinical model, the USR model had higher AUCs in the validation (0.74 vs. 0.63) cohorts. The Clinical-USR model demonstrated higher AUC values in the validation cohort (0.71 vs. 0.63) compared to the Clinical model. The newly developed Clinical-USR model is feasible for predicting CLNM in patients with PTC.

Comparison between Ultrasonography and CT in Diagnosis of Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods The patients with PTC treated by surgery in the Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2016 to January 2021 were selected for analysis.All the patients underwent preoperative ultrasound and CT examinations,the diagnostic values of which for CLNM were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 322 PTC patients were enrolled in this study,including 242 with CLNM and 80 with non-CLNM.The CLNM group and non-CLNM group had significant differences in age,tumor size,and maximum size of lateral CLNM (χ2=20.34,27.34,and 4.30,respectively,all P<0.001).For the central compartment,lateral compartment,and overall compartment,ultrasound diagnosis showed higher sensitivity (χ 2=82.26,P<0.001;χ2=114.01,P<0.001;χ2=82.26,P<0.001) and accuracy (χ2=20.27,P<0.001;χ2=15.56,P<0.001;χ2=44.00,P<0.001) than CT,and had no significant differences from ultrasound combined with CT (all P>0.05).However,ultrasound diagnosis had lower specificity than CT (χ2=17.01,P<0.001;χ2=21.29,P<0.001) in the central compartment and lateral compartment.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that in the central compartment,lateral compartment,and overall compartment,ultrasound diagnosis had larger AUC than CT (Z=2.99,P=0.003;Z=3.86,P<0.001;Z=4.47,P<0.001) and had no significant difference from ultrasound combined with CT (Z=1.87,P=0.062;Z=1.68,P=0.093;Z=1.61,P=0.107). Conclusions Ultrasound and CT have their own advantages in the diagnosis of central and lateral CLNM.In general,ultrasound has better performance than CT in the diagnosis of CLNM.

A Nomogram Based on Clinicopathological and Ultrasound Imaging Characteristics for Predicting Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in cN0 Unilateral Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish a practical nomogram for preoperatively predicting the possibility of cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) based on clinicopathological and ultrasound (US) imaging characteristics in patients with clinically node-negative (cN0) unilateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) in order to determine a personal surgical volume and therapeutic strategy.Methods: A total of 269 consecutive patients diagnosed with cN0 unilateral PTMC by postoperative pathological examination from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients underwent lobectomy or thyroidectomy with routine prophylactic central lymph node dissection (CLND) and were divided into a CLNM group and a non-CLNM group. Using logistic regression, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was applied to determine the risk factors for CLNM in patients with unilateral cN0 PTMC. A nomogram including risk-factor screening using LASSO regression for predicting the CLNM in patients with cN0 unilateral PTMC was further developed and validated.Results: Risk factors identified by LASSO regression, including age, sex, tumor size, presence of extrathyroidal extension (ETE), tumor diameter/lobe thickness (D/T), tumor location, and coexistent benign lesions, were potential predictors for CLNM in patients with cN0 unilateral PTMC. Meanwhile, age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.261, 95% CI.104–0.605; P = 0.003), sex (men: OR = 3.866; 95% CI 1.758–8.880; P < 0.001), ETE (OR = 3.821; 95% CI 1.168–13.861; P = 0.032), D/T (OR = 72.411; 95% CI 5.483–1212.497; P < 0.001), and coexistent benign lesions (OR = 3.112 95% CI 1.407–7.303; P = 0.007) were shown to be significantly related to CLNM by multivariant logistic regression. A nomogram for predicting CLNM in patients with cN0 unilateral PTMC was established based on the risk factors identified by the LASSO regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for predicting CLNM by nomogram showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.777 and exhibited an excellent consistency.Conclusions: A nomogram based on clinical and US imaging characteristics for predicting the probability of CLNM in patients with cN0 unilateral PTMC was developed, which showed a favorable predictive value and consistency. Further prospective research to observe the oncological outcomes is necessary to determine whether the nomogram could potentially guide a personalized surgical volume and surgical approach.

High Iodine Nutrition May Be a Risk Factor for Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Cancer Patients

Purpose: The aim of this study was to retrospectively identify the effect of iodine on the papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) process and investigate the risk clinicopathologic characteristics of cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) for achieving a better preventive strategy of PTC. Methods: Totally 187 patients with CLNM and 279 without CLNM (NCLNM) were enrolled, and their urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and serum iodine concentration (SIC) were measured. Logistic regressions were used to reveal the effects of iodine nutrition on the CLNM status of PTC. Results: The levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroglobulin (TG) were higher in the CLNM group than in the NCLNM group. UIC and SIC were positively correlated, and both of them were correlated with TSH, free thyroxine, and TG. The proportions of UIC >300 μg/L and of SIC >90 μg/L were higher in the CLNM than in the NCLNM. Logistic analysis showed that SIC >90 μg/L was an independent predictor for CLNM in PTC. Additionally, age ≥45, female, TG, multifocality, and diameter of cancer invasion >1 cm also affected CLNM status in PTC, and their logistic regression model showed a certain diagnostic accuracy (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve = 0.72). Conclusions: Relatively high iodine nutrition seemed to be a significant risk factor for the occurrence of CLNM in PTC and may promote lymphatic metastasis in PTC.

Prediction of Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis Using MRI Radiomics Approach in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Feasibility Study.

Background:Cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is critical for treatment and prognosis. To examine the feasibility of MRI radiomics to preoperatively predict cervical LN metastasis in patients with PTC.Methods:Between January 2015 and March 2018, a total of 61 patients with pathologically confirmed PTC were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into cervical LN metastasis group (n = 37) and no cervical LN metastasis (n = 24). T2WI and T2WI-fat-suppression (T2WI-FS) images were collected. A number of radiomic features were automatically extracted from the largest section of tumor. Three types of classifier (the random forests, the support vector machine classifier and the generalized linear model) based on T2WI and T2WI-FS images of cervical LN metastasis and no cervical LN metastasis were constructed and evaluated with a nested cross-validation scheme.Results:Radiomic features extracted from T2WI images were more discriminative than T2WI-FS images. The random forests model showed the best discriminate performance with the highest area under the curve (0.85, CI:0.76 -1), accuracy (0.87), sensitivity (0.83), specificity (1.00), positive predictive value (PPV = 1.00) and negative predictive value (NPV = 0.88).Conclusion:MRI radiomics analysis based on conventional T2WI and T2WI-FS can predict cervical LN metastasis in patients with PTC, and the radiomics is shown to be an assistant diagnosis tool for radiologists.

The value of MRI texture analysis based on gray level co-occurrence matrix to predict cervical lymph node metastasis in tongue carcinoma patients

Objective To evaluate the value of MRI texture analysis based on gray level co-occurrence matrix to predict cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with tongue carcinoma. Methods A total of 70 patients with tongue carcinoma confirmed by pathology were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis group (unilateral LN+,n=18; bilateral LN+,n=22) and no cervical lymph node metastasis(LN-,n=30). T1W, T2W and contrast-enhanced T1W images of the largest section of tumor were selected. ROI of the lesion was manually drew and GLCM texture parameters (energy, contrast, correlation, inverse difference and entropy) were extracted. The tumor length, thickness and para-lingual distance between tumor and tongue midline were also measured. Differences of all parameters were compared between LN+ group and LN- group, unilateral and bilateral cervical lymph node metastasis group, the parameters with statistically significant difference in predicting the efficiency of cervical lymph node metastasis were analyzed. The diagnostic efficiency of lymph node metastasis was calculated. Results The correlation, inverse difference and entropy based on T2WI showed significant difference (Zcorrelation=2.97, tinverse difference=5.14, tentropy=2.41; P 0.05). The diagnostic sensitivity of radiologists was 65.0% (26/40), the specificity was 80.0% (24/32) on cervical lymph node metastasis. Conclusion Texture analysis based on T2WI can predict cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with tongue carcinoma. Entropy has certain value in predicting bilateral cervical lymph node metastasis. Key words: Tongue neoplasms; Lymphatic metastasis; Magnetic resonance imaging; Gray level co-occurrence matrix; Texture analysis

Study on the relationship between ultrasonographic features of papillary thyroid carcinoma and central cervical lymph node metastasis

Objective: To investigate the correlation between ultrasonographic features of papillary thyroid carcinoma and central cervical lymph node metastasis. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 486 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC), pathologically confirmed after surgery in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital. All patients were divided into central cervical lymph node metastasis group and non-metastasis group. No lateral cervical lymph node metastasis was found in preoperative ultrasonography and postoperative pathology. The characteristics of the ultrasound was observed and analyzed. Results: 297 out of 486 patients with papillary thyroid carcinomahad central metastasis, and the other 189 cases did not. Take pathology results as a standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy rate of preoperative ultrasound diagnosis in PTC patients with central cervical lymph node metastasis were 35.3%, 88.6%, 83.2%, 47.4%, 56.6%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that multi-focus, taller-than-wide, diameter>1 cm, located in the lower pole, ill-defined margin, hypoechogenicity, micro-calcification, capsule invasion more than 1/4 perimeter of papillary thyroid carcinoma were significantly associated with central cervical lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that diameter>1 cm, micro-calcification, capsule invasion more than 1/4 perimeter of papillary thyroid carcinoma became independent risk factors of central cervical neck lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Preoperative description of ultrasonographical features has important value to assess central cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. More information could be provided for clinical treatment. When the papillary thyroid carcinoma presented as diameter>1 cm, micro-calcification, and capsule invasion more than 1/4 perimeter of, there will be a greater risk of central cervical lymph node metastasis, and we shall suggest prophylactic central lymph cervical node dissection.

Value of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound and Conventional Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with Cervical Lymph Node Metastases.

Objective To compare the ultrasound features of papillary thyroid carcinoma with or without cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM). Methods Patients suspected of thyroid cancer underwent the conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) examinations. Patients' age,sex,and ultrasound characteristics of lesions were recorded. With the surgical pathology as the golden standard,the ultrasound features were compared between the cervical LNM group and non-LNM group. Results Of 144 patients,51 had cervical LNM and 93 did not. Patients' ages,sex and number of lesions had no significant difference between two groups (all P>0.05). Tumor with LNM had maximum size greater than 0.85 cm,ill-defined margin (P=0.000),irregular shape (P=0.007),internal heterogeneous echogenicity (P=0.007),microcalcification (P=0.020),internal heterogeneous low-enhancement (P=0.002),peripheral non-enhancement ring (P=0.030),and extracapsular extension (P=0.000). Conclusion Conventional ultrasound and CEUS are helpful for predicting the cervical LNM of PTC. CEUS can obtain more accurate diagnostic results for the extracapsular extension,which contributes to the prediction of cervical LNM.

CLDN1 expression in cervical cancer cells is related to tumor invasion and metastasis.

Even though infection with human papillomaviruses (HPV) is very important, it is not the sole cause of cervical cancer. Because it is known that genetic variations that result from HPV infection are probably the most important causes of cervical cancer, we used human whole genome array comparative genomic hybridization to detect the copy number variations of genes in cervical squamous cell carcinoma. The results of the array were validated by PCR, FISH and immunohistochemistry. We find that the copy number and protein expression of claudin-1 (CLDN1) increase with the progression of cervical cancer. The strong positive staining of CLDN1 in the cervical lymph node metastasis group received a significantly higher score than the staining in the group with no lymph node metastasis of cervical cancer tissues. The overexpression of CLDN1 in SiHa cells can increase anti-apoptosis ability and promote invasive ability of these cells accompanied by a decrease in expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin as well as an increase in the expression of the mesenchymal marker vimentin. CLDN1 induces the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through its interaction with SNAI1. Furthermore, we demonstrate that CLDN1 overexpression has significant effects on the growth and metastasis of xenografted tumors in athymic mice. These data suggest that CLDN1 promotes invasion and metastasis in cervical cancer cells via the expression of EMT/invasion-related genes. Therefore, CLDN1 could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Real-time tissue elastography as a evaluation of the assessment of papillary thyroid papillary carcinoma with cervical lymph node metastasis

Objective To compare real-time tissue elastography (RTE) and ultrasound in the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on the clinical data of 72 patients with PTC.Eighty-four LNs of them were performed with ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy.Patients were divided into two groups: with cervical lymph node metastasis group and without cervical lymph node metastasis group.All patients were reviewed their B-mode ultrasonography (BUS) on cervical lymph node and RTE on thyroid.RTE elasticity indices (EI) of mean (Emean), minimum (Emin), maximum (Emax) and the ratio of Emean in LNs and surrounding muscle (Emean-m) were measured at the thyroids.The performances of RTE and BUS in predicting of PTC with LN metastasis were compared and analyzed. Results The sensitivity and specificity of BUS on diagnosis of the cervical lymph nodes metastasis were 84.0% and 90.0%.The RTE Emea, Emax, Emin and SI in meta-static LNs were significantly higher than those in benign LNs(P=0.001, 0.002, 0.001, 0.007). The RTE results of PTC patients with lymph node metastasis was analyzed by ROC curve.The largest area was Emin.AUC was 0.918, the critical value was 0.240.AUC of SI was 0.896, AUC of Emean was 0.718, AUC of Emax was 0.670.The sensitivity and specificity were 94.0% and 99.4%, respectively. Conclusion Co-operation of RTE and BUS was more accurate than simple BUS in diagnosis of PTC with lymph node metastasis.SI and Emin has a high diagnostic value. Key words: Thyroid neoplasms; Ultrasonography; Neoplasm metastasis; Lymphatic metastasis

Detection of primary sites of unknown primary tumors using 18F-FDG PET-CT

Objective To determine the value of 18F-FDG PET-CT in detecting the primary origin of cancer of unknown primary (CUP).Methods A total of 48 patients (age range 41-82 years,mean age of 57±16 years, 20 females) were retrospectively selected. All patients were diagnosed as CUP and were examined by 18F-FDG PET-CT scan.The patients were divided into cervical lymph node metastasis group (28 cases) and extra-cervical lymph node metastasis group (20 cases) according to different metastasis site.Sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET-CT to detect primary tumor site was compared between these two groups.Results 18F-FDG PET-CT detected primary tumors in 32 of 48 patients (66.7 ％), the cervical lymph node metastasis tumors in 22 of 28 patients (78.6 ％), and extra-cervical lymph node metastasis tumors in 10 of 20 patients (50.0 ％).There was significant difference between cervical lymph node metastasis group and extra-cervical lymph node metastasis group (x2 =4.286,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion 18F-FDG PET-CT has a high sensitivity to detect primary origin of CUP,especially for patients with cervical lymph node metastasis. Key words: Neoplasms, unknown primary; 18F-FDG; PET-CT