Predictive value of lymph node size for ipsilateral central lymph node metastasis of single papillary thyroid microcarcinoma in CT examination / 中华内分泌外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of lymph node size for ipsilateral central lymph node metastasis (ICLNM) of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) in CT examination.Methods:The CT data of 229 patients with single PTMC admitted to the Department of Oncology, Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine from Jan. 2018 to Jun. 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All cases were confirmed by surgery and pathology. The ipsilateral central lymph nodes were divided into <0.2 cm group, 0.2-0.4 cm group and ≥0.4 cm group according to their maximun diameters, and the distribution difference of positive and negative ICLNM among the three groups were observed and analyzed by χ 2 test. Results:In 229 PTMCs, the proportion of positive and negative ICLNM were 29.69% (68/229) and 70.31% (108/155) , respectively. Positive ICLNM in <0.2 cm group, 0.2-0.4 cm group and ≥0.4 cm group accounted for 11.43% (16/140) , 64.29% (36/56) and 81.82% (27/33) , respectively. When 0.2 cm and 0.4 cm were used as the threshold to determine positive ICLNM, the values of χ 2 and P between groups were 87.663 and <0.001. The sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing lymph node metastasis were 79.75% (63/79) and 82.67% (124/150) , 34.18% (27/79) and 96% (144/150) , respectively. The proportions of high enhancement, calcification and cystic degeneration were 3.2% (5/155) , 0.7% (1/155) and 0 (0/155) , respectively. Conclusions:In CT examination of patients with PTMC, the diameter of lymph nodes less than 0.2 cm highly indicates negative ICLNM. The proportion of positive ICLNM increased with increasing lymph node diameter, and the diameter of lymph nodes less than 0.4 cm highly indicates positive ICLNM.