title: Ultrasonographic findings relating to lymph node metastasis in single micropapillary thyroid cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In thyroid cancer, preoperative ultrasonography (US) is performed to detect the primary tumor and lymph node metastasis (LNM), which are related to prognosis. This study examined the relationships between specific US findings and LNM in micropapillary thyroid cancer (MPTC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on 220 patients with solitary MPTC who underwent total thyroidectomy and neck dissection between 2008 and 2009 were evaluated retrospectively. We classified the US findings according to the nature, shape, echogenicity, extent, margin, and calcification of the primary tumor and evaluated the correlations between these findings and those of LNM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypoechogenicity (odds ratio = 2.331, P = 0.025) and marked hypoechogenicity (OR = 4.032, P = 0.016) of MPTC were risk factors for central LNM. All of the patients with lateral cervical LNM showed hypoechogenicity or marked hypoechogenicity. Hypoechogenicity (odds ratio = 5.349, P = 0.047) and other types of calcification (odds ratio = 2.495, P = 0.010) were significant risk factors for lateral cervical LNM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specific sonographic findings (hypoechogenicity or marked hypoechogenicity, and calcification) suggest LNM.
authors.forename: Yoon Se
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yun-Sung
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Jin-Choon
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soo-Geun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Seok-Man
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Sang-Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In-Ju
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, 1-10, Ami-dong, Seo-gu, Pusan 602-739, Republic of Korea. voicelee@pusan.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Byung-Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014463:Ultrasonography