Preoperative ultrasound and clinical features to predict skip metastasis in medullary thyroid carcinoma
10.3760/cma.j.cn131148-20241202-00627
- VernacularTitle:甲状腺髓样癌颈部淋巴结跳跃性转移的预测分析
- Author:
Jing ZHAO
1
;
Yan DENG
;
Lei ZHANG
;
Xiangqian ZHENG
;
Xi WEI
Author Information
1. 天津医科大学肿瘤医院超声诊疗科，天津 300060
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Ultrasonography;
Medullary thyroid carcinoma;
Skip metastasis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography
2025;34(5):397-402
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the preoperative risk features of skip metastasis in medullary thyroid carcinoma（MTC），and analyze the rule and the causes of missed diagnosis of skip metastasis.Methods:A retrospective study of 208 MTC patients in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital between January 2013 and January 2023 were enrolled. Based on postoperative pathology，patients were classified into without lateral cervical metastasis group（ n=102），skip metastasis group（ n=21），and non-skip metastasis group（ n=85）. Prognostic outcomes were compared via Kaplan-Meier analysis in the 3 groups. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression identified risk factors for lateral cervical metastasis and skip metastasis.The distribution patterns，clinical and sonographic features of metastatic lymph nodes were analysed. Results:Prognostic differences：The group without lateral cervical metastasis showed the highest biochemical cure rate，followed by the skip subgroupand non-skip subgroup（ P<0.001）. The results of the regression analysis showed male（ OR=2.930，95% CI=1.295-6.628），preoperative calcitonin >317 ng/L（ OR=9.820，95% CI=3.541-27.234），tumor contact with the length/perimeter ≥1/4（ OR=3.275，95% CI=1.353-7.927），a taller-than-wide shape <1（ OR=24.239，95% CI=6.319-92.983），irregular margins（ OR=3.658，95% CI=1.213-11.036），solid composition（ OR=25.639，95% CI=2.295-286.408）and calcifications（ OR=15.429，95% CI=4.090-58.202）were independent risk factors for lateral cervicalasis. Tumor size ≤ 1 cm（ OR=4.735，95% CI=0.067-0.868）and upper pole involvement（ OR=6.879，95% CI=0.069-0.679）were independent risk factors for skip metastasis. The rules of skip metastasis：Skip metastasis group could distribute to levels Ⅱ（ n=9），Ⅲ（ n=13），Ⅳ（ n=14），and Ⅴ（ n=2），the number of metastatic lymph nodes was significantly less than non-skipping group［4（8.0） vs.11（17.5）， P<0.001］. There were no statistically significant differences in size，shape，hilum，calcifications，peripheral vascularity and the number of high suspicious ultrasound features of metastatic lymph node between the two groups（all P>0.05）. Conclusions:The prognosis is best in the without lateral cervical metastasis，followed by skip metastasis，and is worst for non-skip metastasis. A small number of metastatic lymph nodes may be the reason for the missed diagnosis of skip metastasis by ultrasound. Male，calcitonin > 317 ng/L，tumor contact with the length/perimeter ≥ 1/4，a taller-than-wide shape，irregular margins，solid composition and calcifications are independent risk factors for lateral cervicalasis . Tumor size ≤ 1 cm and upper pole involvement should alert to skip metastasis.
