Association of sonographic features and clinicopathologic factors of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma for prevalence of lymph node metastasis: a retrospective analysis

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to develop an association between clinicopathologic and sonographic features of patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma and the prevalence of lymph node metastasis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Clinicopathologic and sonographic features of 415 patients of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma with (n = 102) or without (n = 313) lymph node metastasis were retrospectively reviewed. The thickness of the lymph node ≥ 6 mm with intra-lymph nodal occupying lesions considered lymph node metastasis. Also, it was considered metastasis if lymph node perfusion or blood flow defect was found with any thickness size. Univariate following multivariate analysis was performed for the prediction of sonographic features and clinicopathologic factors for the prevalence of lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: Male gender ( p = 0.041), age < 45 years ( p = 0.042), preoperative calcitonin > 65 pg/ mL ( p = 0.039), nodule size > 5 mm in diameter ( p = 0.038), bilaterality ( p = 0.038), tumor capsular invasion ( p = 0.048), cystic change ( p = 0.047), and hyper vascularity ( p = 0.049) of thyroid nodules were associated with lymph node metastasis. Also, thyroid nodules 5 mm and more in diameter may have high aggressiveness. CONCLUSION: These data helped the surgeon for individualized treatment in thyroid carcinoma and avoid unnecessary prophylactic surgery of the lymph node.