Correlation Analysis of Nodular Sonographic Parameters with Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Objective: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common thyroid carcinoma, and is prone to cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM). We aim to analyze the correlation between clinical information, ultrasonic parameters of PTC and CLNM. Methods 1335 patients who had pathologically confirmed unifocal PTC were enrolled. Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis were performed to predict CLNM in PTC patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance. Results Univariate analysis showed that gender, age, maximum tumor diameter and volume, cross-sectional and longitudinal aspect ratio were related to CLNM (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that gender, age, maximum tumor diameter and volume were independent correlative factors, cross-sectional aspect ratio had significant difference for PTC patients excluding PTMC to predict CLNM. The area under the curve (AUC) of the maximum tumor diameter and volume was 0.738 and 0.733, respectively. Maximum tumor diameter and volume, and cross-sectional and longitudinal aspect ratio were statistically significant following analysis of variance (P < 0.05). Conclusions Younger age, male, and larger tumor were high risk factors for CLNM in patients with unifocal PTC. Cross-sectional aspect ratio had a more effective predictive value for CLNM in patients with larger thyroid tumors.