Lymph Node Ratio for Postoperative Staging of Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Lymph Node Metastasis

Background

Lymph node metastasis has a significant impact on laryngeal cancer prognosis. The role of lymph node ratio (LNR, ratio of metastatic to examined nodes) in the staging of laryngeal cancer was not reported.

Patients and Methods

Records of laryngeal cancer patients with lymph node involvement from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (SEER, training set, N = 1963) and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FDSCC, validating set, N = 27) were analyzed for the prognostic value of LNR. Kaplan–Meier survival estimates, the Log-rank χ² test and Cox proportional hazards model were used for univariate and multivariate analysis. Optimal LNR cutoff points were identified by X-tile.

Results

Optimal LNR cutoff points classified patients into three risk groups R1 (≤0.09), R2 (0.09–0.20) and R3 (>0.20), corresponding to 5-year cause-specific survival and overall survival in SEER patients of 55.1%, 40.2%, 28.8% and 43.1%, 31.5%, 21.8%, 2-year disease free survival and disease specific survival in FDSCC patients of 74.1%, 62.5%, 50.0%, and 67.7%, 43.2%, 25.0%, respectively. R3 stratified more high risk patients than N3 with the same survival rate, and R classification clearly separated N2 patients to 3 risk groups and N1 patients to 2 risk groups (R1–2 and R3).

Conclusions

R classification is a significant prognostic factor of laryngeal cancer and should be used as a complementary staging system of N classification.     

肾细胞癌淋巴结转移预测指标的Logistic回归分析

目的：研究肾细胞癌淋巴结转移的危险因素,并建立Logistic回归模型。方法：2002年2月-2010年10月我院手术治疗的肾细胞癌163例,对其临床病理资料进行单因素和多因素的Logistic回归分析。结果：淋巴结转移的发生率为20．9％（34／163）。单因素分析显示：肿瘤大小、临床分期、Fuhrman核分级和贫血与肾细胞癌淋巴结转移的风险有关（P〈0．05）;多因素分析显示：肿瘤大小、临床分期和Fuhrman核分级是RCC淋巴结转移独立的风险因素。结论：肾细胞癌淋巴结转移的风险与肿瘤大小、临床分期和Fuhrman核分级有关,Logistic回归模型对于判断预后、指导术后治疗及随访方案的制订具有重要作用。     

肾细胞癌淋巴结转移预测指标的Logistic 回归分析

目的:研究肾细胞癌淋巴结转移的危险因素,并建立Logistic回归模型。方法:2002年2月～2010年10月我院手术治疗的肾细胞癌163例,对其临床病理资料进行单因素和多因素的Logistic回归分析。结果:淋巴结转移的发生率为20.9%(34/163)。单因素分析显示:肿瘤大小、临床分期、Fuhrman核分级和贫血与肾细胞癌淋巴结转移的风险有关(P<0.05);多因素分析显示:肿瘤大小、临床分期和Fuhrman核分级是RCC淋巴结转移独立的风险因素。结论:肾细胞癌淋巴结转移的风险与肿瘤大小、临床分期和Fuhrman核分级有关,Logistic回归模型对于判断预后、指导术后治疗及随访方案的制订具有重要作用。     

Non-Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis Prediction in Breast Cancer with Metastatic Sentinel Lymph Node: Impact of Molecular Subtypes Classification

Introduction

To decipher the interaction between the molecular subtype classification and the probability of a non-sentinel node metastasis in breast cancer patients with a metastatic sentinel lymph-node, we applied two validated predictors (Tenon Score and MSKCC Nomogram) on two large independent datasets.

Materials and Methods

Our datasets consisted of 656 and 574 early-stage breast cancer patients with a metastatic sentinel lymph-node biopsy treated at first by surgery. We applied both predictors on the whole dataset and on each molecular immune-phenotype subgroups. The performances of the two predictors were analyzed in terms of discrimination and calibration. Probability of non-sentinel lymph node metastasis was detailed for each molecular subtype.

Results

Similar results were obtained with both predictors. We showed that the performance in terms of discrimination was as expected in ER Positive HER2 negative subgroup in both datasets (MSKCC AUC Dataset 1 = 0.73 [0.69–0.78], MSKCC AUC Dataset 2 = 0.71 (0.65–0.76), Tenon Score AUC Dataset 1 = 0.7 (0.65–0.75), Tenon Score AUC Dataset 2 = 0.72 (0.66–0.76)). Probability of non-sentinel node metastatic involvement was slightly under-estimated. Contradictory results were obtained in other subgroups (ER negative HER2 negative, HER2 positive subgroups) in both datasets probably due to a small sample size issue. We showed that merging the two datasets shifted the performance close to the ER positive HER2 negative subgroup.

Discussion

We showed that validated predictors like the Tenon Score or the MSKCC nomogram built on heterogeneous population of breast cancer performed equally on the different subgroups analyzed. Our present study re-enforce the idea that performing subgroup analysis of such predictors within less than 200 samples subgroup is at major risk of misleading conclusions.     

Building CT Radiomics Based Nomogram for Preoperative Esophageal Cancer Patients Lymph Node Metastasis Prediction

PURPOSE: To build and validate a radiomics-based nomogram for the prediction of pre-operation lymph node (LN) metastasis in esophageal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 197 esophageal cancer patients were enrolled in this study, and their LN metastases have been pathologically confirmed. The data were collected from January 2016 to May 2016; patients in the first three months were set in the training cohort, and patients in April 2016 were set in the validation cohort. About 788 radiomics features were extracted from computed tomography (CT) images of the patients. The elastic-net approach was exploited for dimension reduction and selection of the feature space. The multivariable logistic regression analysis was adopted to build the radiomics signature and another predictive nomogram model. The predictive nomogram model was composed of three factors with the radiomics signature, where CT reported the LN number and position risk level. The performance and usefulness of the built model were assessed by the calibration and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: Thirteen radiomics features were selected to build the radiomics signature. The radiomics signature was significantly associated with the LN metastasis (P<0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) of the radiomics signature performance in the training cohort was 0.806 (95% CI: 0.732-0.881), and in the validation cohort it was 0.771 (95% CI: 0.632-0.910). The model showed good discrimination, with a Harrell’s Concordance Index of 0.768 (0.672 to 0.864, 95% CI) in the training cohort and 0.754 (0.603 to 0.895, 95% CI) in the validation cohort. Decision curve analysis showed our model will receive benefit when the threshold probability was larger than 0.15. CONCLUSION: The present study proposed a radiomics-based nomogram involving the radiomics signature, so the CT reported the status of the suspected LN and the dummy variable of the tumor position. It can be potentially applied in the individual preoperative prediction of the LN metastasis status in esophageal cancer patients.     

兔VX2肿瘤淋巴转移动物模型建立和病理学观察

目的建立适用的VX2淋巴癌转移模型.方法 24只新西兰白兔随机分成模型组和对照组,模型组14只,对照组10只.模型组在兔右股二头肌肌腹中部注射VX2细胞悬液0.5 mL,对照组在相同位置注射0.5 mL生理氯化钠溶液,观察淋巴结的变化,第28天处死动物,病理学观察肿瘤大小、形态及组织学改变.结果模型组14只动物全部成瘤,成瘤率100%.腘窝淋巴结明显肿大, 病理检查显示其淋巴结可见大量癌细胞,淋巴结的正常结构完全被破坏,甚至消失,转移率100%.结论肌肉注射VX2组织悬液能建立腘窝淋巴结癌转移动物模型,方法简便易行,转移率高.该模型动物体形较大,淋巴结浅而大,对实验性癌淋巴转移的研究具有实用意义.     

CT 扫描在食管癌淋巴结转移患者预后评估中的应用价值

目的:探讨CT扫描对食管癌淋巴结转移诊断的准确率及CT扫描对预测淋巴结转移患者预后的价值.方法:选择我院收入的行食管癌根治术患者共146例,患者均行CT及腹部彩超,检查者CT及腹部彩超对食管癌淋巴结转移检测的准确率及漏诊率,检测CT淋巴结转移数、CT三分区转移情况及CT最大病变直径等CT检测与食管癌淋巴结转移相关因素.结果:CT淋巴结总检出率显著高于彩超检出率,两组对比差异有统计学意义,P＜0.05.CT检测中胸上段、胸中段总检出率显著高于彩超检出率,结果对比差异有统计学意义,P＜0.05.所有患者自手术日起计算术后1、3年生存率分别为73.3％(107/146)、47.9％( 70/146),CT 转移数≥2枚、CT三分区转移＜2区、CT最大病变直径≤3cm患者术后生存率较高,结果对比差异有统计学意义,P＜0.05.结论:CT对食管癌淋巴结转移诊断率较高,CT转移数、CT三分区转移及CT最大病变直径检测可用于评估患者术后生存率情况.     

直肠癌的淋巴结转移的危险因素

目的:本研究主要目的为确定直肠癌的淋巴结转移的危险因素。方法:通过对1250例于2004年-2008年行直肠癌根治性切除的患者进行单因素和多因素分析,以确定淋巴结转移相关的危险因素,同时对PT分期和肿瘤大小之间的关系进行了相关性分析。结果:直肠癌患者淋巴结转移发生率为41%。在单因素分析中,患者年龄(P=0.008)、肿瘤大小(P=0.003)、PT分期(P<0.0019)以及分化程度(P<0.001)和淋巴结转移相关。在多因素分析中,年龄(P=0.017,OR=0.988,95%可信区间:0.978-0.998)、PT分期(P<0.001,OR=1.952,95%可信区间:1.656-2.302)和分化程度(P<0.001,OR=3.697,95%可信区间:2.112-6.472)是淋巴结转移的独立因素。结论:在直肠癌相关分析中,肿瘤的大小和PT分期呈正相关。年龄、PT分期和肿瘤分化程度是淋巴结转移的独立因素。在直肠癌中,肿瘤的大小和PT分期呈正相关。     

口腔鳞癌E钙粘连素表达与颈淋巴结转移相关性的研究

探讨E钙粘连素的表达与口腔鳞癌淋巴结转移的相关性。采用蛋白杂交技术 ,对病理确诊的 68例口腔鳞癌标本进行肿瘤组织总蛋白提取 ,然后行蛋白质免疫印迹检测 (Westernblot)。 68例口腔癌中的E钙粘连素表达显示 ,3 6例淋巴结转移标本与 3 2例未发生淋巴结转移的标本相比 ,E钙粘连素的表达明显降低(P <0 .0 1 )。此结果提示口腔鳞癌淋巴结转移与E钙粘连素的丧失密切相关 ,E钙粘连素的表达可以作为极有价值的判定肿瘤转移发生可能性以及愈后的判断指标。     

Increased Expression of Flotillin-2 Protein as a Novel Biomarker for Lymph Node Metastasis in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a head and neck malignant tumor rare throughout most of the world but common in Southeast Asia, especially in Southern China. Flotillin-2 (Flot-2) is not only an important component of cellular membrane, but also involves in various cellular processes such as membrane trafficking, T cell and B cell activation, regulation of several signaling pathways associated with cell growth and malignant transformation, keeping structure and junction of epidermal cells and formation of filopodia. Although such molecular effects of Flot-2 have been reported, whether the expression of Flot-2 protein is associated with clinicopathologic implication for NPC has not been reported. The purpose of this research is to investigate the expression of Flot-2 protein in NPC and control nasopharyngeal epithelial tissues by immunohistochemistry and elucidate the association between the expression of Flot-2 protein and clinicopathological characteristics of NPC. The results showed that the positive percentage of Flot-2 expression in the NPC, nasopharyngeal epithelia with atypical hyperplasia and in the control nasopharyngeal mucosa epithelia was 88.8% (119/134), 76.9% (10/13) and 5.7% (5/88), respectively. There was significantly higher expression of Flot-2 protein in NPC and nasopharyngeal epithelia with atypical hyperplasia compared to the control nasopharyngeal mucosa epithelia (P<0.001, respectively). The positive percentage of Flot-2 protein expression in NPC patients with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than those without lymph node metastasis. Increasing of Flot-2 expression was obviously correlated with clinical stages of NPC patients. The expression of Flot-2 was proved to be the independent predicted factor for lymph node metastasis by multivariate analysis. The sensitivity of Flot-2 for predicting lymph node metastasis of NPC patients was 93%. Taken together, our results suggest that the increased expression of Flot-2 protein is a novel higher sensitivity biomarker that can predict lymph node metastases in NPC.     

Assessing Discriminative Performance at External Validation of Clinical Prediction Models

Introduction

External validation studies are essential to study the generalizability of prediction models. Recently a permutation test, focusing on discrimination as quantified by the c-statistic, was proposed to judge whether a prediction model is transportable to a new setting. We aimed to evaluate this test and compare it to previously proposed procedures to judge any changes in c-statistic from development to external validation setting.

Methods

We compared the use of the permutation test to the use of benchmark values of the c-statistic following from a previously proposed framework to judge transportability of a prediction model. In a simulation study we developed a prediction model with logistic regression on a development set and validated them in the validation set. We concentrated on two scenarios: 1) the case-mix was more heterogeneous and predictor effects were weaker in the validation set compared to the development set, and 2) the case-mix was less heterogeneous in the validation set and predictor effects were identical in the validation and development set. Furthermore we illustrated the methods in a case study using 15 datasets of patients suffering from traumatic brain injury.

Results

The permutation test indicated that the validation and development set were homogenous in scenario 1 (in almost all simulated samples) and heterogeneous in scenario 2 (in 17%-39% of simulated samples). Previously proposed benchmark values of the c-statistic and the standard deviation of the linear predictors correctly pointed at the more heterogeneous case-mix in scenario 1 and the less heterogeneous case-mix in scenario 2.

Conclusion

The recently proposed permutation test may provide misleading results when externally validating prediction models in the presence of case-mix differences between the development and validation population. To correctly interpret the c-statistic found at external validation it is crucial to disentangle case-mix differences from incorrect regression coefficients.     

口腔癌中肿瘤出芽与VEGF—C表达及淋巴结转移的相关关系

目的：通过检测肿瘤出芽、淋巴结转移以及血管内皮生长因子-C（VEGF—C）表达水平,分析口腔癌中肿瘤出芽与VEGF—C表达及淋巴结转移的相关关系,为临床治疗提供理论参考。方法：选取2009年1月-2013年1月4年间在我院接受诊治且资料完整63例口腔癌患者作为研究对象,观察肿瘤出芽、VEGF-C表达和淋巴结转移情况,分析相互之间的相关关系。结果：本次纳入研究的患者中,检出肿瘤出芽患者40例,所占比例为63．5％,VEGF—C表达阳性患者39例,阳性率率为61．9％,淋巴结转移患者40例,转移率为63．5％;肿瘤出芽与淋巴结转移的符合率为84．1％,肿瘤出芽与VEGF—C的表达符合率为79．4％,VEGF-C的表达与淋巴结转移发生的符合率为76．2％。肿瘤出芽与淋巴结转移呈正相关,经Spear相关分析,r=0．932,P〈0．05,与VEGF-C的表达也呈正相关,经Spear相关分析,r=0．897,P〈0．05。结论：肿瘤出芽与VEGF—C的表达水平和淋巴结转移均呈正相关关系,可用于预测判断口腔癌淋巴结转移情况。     

A Permutation Method to Assess Heterogeneity in External Validation for Risk Prediction Models

The value of a developed prediction model depends on its performance outside the development sample. The key is therefore to externally validate the model on a different but related independent data. In this study, we propose a permutation method to assess heterogeneity in external validation for risk prediction models. The permutation p value measures the extent of homology between development and validation datasets. If p < 0.05, the model may not be directly transported to the external validation population without further revision or updating. Monte-Carlo simulations are conducted to evaluate the statistical properties of the proposed method, and two microarray breast cancer datasets are analyzed for demonstration. The permutation method is easy to implement and is recommended for routine use in external validation for risk prediction models.     

Positive Lymph Node Metastasis Has a Marked Impact on the Long-Term Survival of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Extrahepatic Metastasis

Background

The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with extrahepatic metastasis is extremely poor. However, what is the main risk factor for survival remains unclear for these patients. We aimed to find out the relative frequency, incidence and locations of extrahepatic metastases and the risk factors of long-term survival of the patients.

Methods

132 HCC patients with extrahepatic metastasis diagnosed by ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and conventional workup were enrolled into this study. The incidence and locations of extrahepatic metastases were summarized, and the related risk factors of overall survival were analyzed.

Results

The most frequent extrahepatic metastatic sites were lymph nodes in 72 (54.5%), bone in 33 (25.0%) and lung in 28 (21.2%) patients. On univariate analysis, prothrombin time, Child-Pugh grade, portal/hepatic vein invasion and lymph node metastasis were independent risk factors of overall survival. On multivariate analysis, lymph node metastasis was the only independent risk factor of overall survival. The cumulative survival rates at 1- and 3-years after diagnosis of extrahepatic metastasis of HCC were 34.4% and 9.3%, respectively. The median survival time was 7 months (range 1 ∼38 months). The median survival time for patients with or without lymph node metastasis were 5 months (range 1∼38 months) and 12 months (range 1∼30 months), respectively (P = 0.036).

Conclusions

This study showed lymph nodes to be the most frequent site of extrahepatic metastases for primary HCC. Lymph node metastasis was the main risk factor of overall survival in patients with HCC with extrahepatic metastasis.     

Applicability of Preoperative Nuclear Morphometry to Evaluating Risk for Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background

We previously reported the utility of preoperative nuclear morphometry for evaluating risk for cervical lymph node metastases in tongue squamous cell carcinoma. The risk for lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma, however, is known to differ depending on the anatomical site of the primary tumor, such as the tongue, gingiva, mouth floor, and buccal mucosa. In this study, we evaluated the applicability of this morphometric technique to evaluating the risk for cervical lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods

A digital image system was used to measure the mean nuclear area, mean nuclear perimeter, nuclear circular rate, ratio of nuclear length to width (aspect ratio), and nuclear area coefficient of variation (NACV). Relationships between these parameters and nodal status were evaluated by t-test and logistic regression analysis.

Results

Eighty-eight cases of squamous cell carcinoma (52 of the tongue, 25 of the gingiva, 4 of the buccal mucosa, and 7 of the mouth floor) were included: 46 with positive node classification and 42 with negative node classification. Nuclear area and perimeter were significantly larger in node-positive cases than in node-negative cases; however, there were no significant differences in circular rate, aspect ratio, or NACV. We derived two risk models based on the results of multivariate analysis: Model 1, which identified age and mean nuclear area and Model 2, which identified age and mean nuclear perimeter. It should be noted that primary tumor site was not associated the pN-positive status. There were no significant differences in pathological nodal status by aspect ratio, NACV, or primary tumor site.

Conclusion

Our method of preoperative nuclear morphometry may contribute valuable information to evaluations of the risk for lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.     

Microarray Gene Expression Analysis of Tumorigenesis and Regional Lymph Node Metastasis in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is the most common type in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and the development and progression of LSCC are multistep processes accompanied by changes of molecular biology.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular basis of tumorigenesis and regional lymph node metastasis in LSCC, and provide a set of genes that may be useful for the development of novel diagnostic markers and/or more effective therapeutic strategies.

Methods

A total number of 10 patients who underwent surgery for primary laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were recruited for microarray analysis. LSCC tissues compared with corresponding adjacent non-neoplastic tissues were analysed by Illumina mRNA microarrays, and LSCC tissues with regional lymph node metastasis and LSCC tissues without regional lymph node metastasis were analyzed in the same manner. The most frequently differently expressed genes screened by microarrays were also validated by qRT-PCR in another 42 patients diagnosed for LSCC.

Results

Analysed by Illumina mRNA microarrays, there were 361 genes significantly related to tumorigenesis while 246 genes significantly related to regional lymph node metastasis in LSCC. We found that the six genes (CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, MCM2, MCM3, MCM4) were most frequently differently expressed functional genes related to tumorigenesis while eIF3a and RPN2 were most frequently differently expressed functional genes related to regional lymph node metastasis in LSCC. The expressions of these genes were also validated by qRT-PCR.

Conclusions

The research revealed a gene expression signature of tumorigenesis and regional lymph node metastasis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Of the total, the deregulation of several genes (CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, MCM2, MCM3, MCM4, EIF3a and RPN2) were potentially associated with disease development and progression. The result will contribute to the understanding of the molecular basis of LSCC and help to improve diagnosis and treatment.     

Preoperative Prediction of Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis Using Primary Tumor SUVmax on 18F-FDG PET/CT in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Objectives

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the value of preoperative ¹⁸F-FDG (FDG) PET/CT in predicting cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Methods

One hundred and ninety-three newly diagnosed PTC patients (M: F = 25:168, age = 46.8 ± 12.2) who had undergone pretreatment FDG PET/CT and had neck node dissection were included in this study. The FDG avidity of the primary tumor and the SUVmax of the primary tumor (pSUVmax) were analyzed for prediction of LN metastasis. Detectability by ultrasonography (US) and FDG PET/CT for cervical LN metastasis were also assessed and compared with the pSUVmax.

Results

The FDG avidity of the primary tumor was identified in 118 patients (FDG avid group: 61.0%, M: F = 16:102, age 47.0 ± 12.7 years) and pSUVmax ranged from 1.3 to 35.6 (median 4.6) in the FDG avid group. The tumor size in the FDG avid group was bigger and there was a higher incidence of LN metastasis compared to the FDG non-avid group (0.93 vs. 0.59 cm, p <0.001 and 49.2 vs. 33.3%, p <0.05). In the FDG avid group, patients with LN metastasis had higher pSUVmax than patients without LN metastasis (8.7 ± 8.3 vs. 5.7 ± 5.1, p <0.001). The incidence of central LN metastasis in patients with a pSUVmax >4.6 was 54%; however, the detectability of central LN metastasis by US and FDG PET/CT were 10.3% and 3.6%, respectively.

Conclusion

A high FDG avidity of the primary tumor was related to LN metastasis in PTC patients. Therefore, patients with a high pSUVmax should be cautiously assessed for LN metastasis and might need a more comprehensive surgical approach.     

Risk Factors for Central Lymph Node Metastasis in CN0 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) is common in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Prophylactic central lymph node dissection (PCLND) for patients with clinically negative central compartment lymph nodes (CN0) remains controversial. The phrase “clinically negative” is used to indicate that patients exhibited no clinical evidence of CLNM by ultrasonography (US) or computerized tomography (CT) preoperatively. In this study, we analyze the risk factors for CLNM in CN0 patients.

Methods

The PUBMED and SCIE databases were systematically searched for works published through January 31, 2015. All of the patients included in this study underwent thyroidectomy+PCLND. Revman 5.3 software was used to analyze the data.

Results

Twenty studies and 9084 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The following variables were associated with an increased risk of CLNM in CN0 patients: age < 45 years (OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.42–1.78, p<0.00001), male sex (OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.63–2.32, p<0.00001), multifocality (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.22–1.67, p<0.00001), tumor size > 2 cm for PTC patients (OR = 2.98, 95% CI 2.08–4.28, p<0.00001) or tumor size > 0.5 cm for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) patients (OR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.71–3.09, p<0.00001), location of the primary tumor in the central area and low pole (OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.48–2.33, p<0.00001), lymphovascular invasion (OR = 4.35, 95% CI = 2.24–8.46, p<0.0001), extrathyroidal extension (OR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.76–2.94, p<0.00001), and capsular invasion (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.39–2.41, p<0.00001). PTC (tumor size>1cm) exhibited a higher risk factor associated with CLNM than PTMC (tumor size<1cm) (OR = 2.83, 95% CI = 2.15–3.72, p<0.00001). Bilateral tumors (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 0.92–1.58, p = 0.17) and lymphocytic thyroiditis (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.71–1.09, p = 0.25) had no association with CLNM in CN0 patients.

Conclusions

Our systematic review identified several clinical features associated with CLNM in CN0 patients, including age, sex, multifocality, size, location, lymphovascular invasion, capsular invasion, and extrathyroidal extension. These factors should guide the application of PCLND in CN0 patients.