title: Sonographic features of primary tumor as independent predictive factors for lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this research was to find the sonographic features of primary tumor as independent predictive factors for lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  To facilitate the research, 514 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were divided into solitary and multifocal groups. In solitary group, thyroid lesions were divided into several subgroups by size, border, margin, echogenicity, echohomogeneity, calcification, vascularization, location, stiffness and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) conditions. Then, univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to find the sonographic features of primary tumor as independent predictive factors for lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference of lymph node metastasis rate was found between multifocal and solitary groups (P < 0.05). In univariable analysis, size, vascularization and coexistence of HT were found to be statistically significant factors (P = 0.004, 0.118, 0.016). Multivariable analysis revealed that lymph node metastasis rate was mainly associated with size [odds ratio (OR) = 1.690, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.157-2.469] and coexistence of HT (OR = 0.441, 95 % CI 0.219-0.888).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative sonographic features of primary tumor including the number, size and coexistence of HT were independent predictive factors for the state of cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, 600 Yishan Road Shanghai, Shanghai, 200233, China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, 600 Yishan Road Shanghai, Shanghai, 200233, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, 600 Yishan Road Shanghai, Shanghai, 200233, China. yannanfly@126.com.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, 600 Yishan Road Shanghai, Shanghai, 200233, China.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009333:Neck; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D047368:Tumor Burden; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis; Lymph node metastasis; Papillary thyroid carcinoma; Sonographic features