Objective:To determine the clinical factors affecting Central lymph node metastases (CLNM) of single Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). To predict the value of age for CLNM under different genders and the status of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) .Methods:The clinical data of 4 115 patients with PTMC (≤10.0 mm) and 664 patients with PTC (> 10.0 mm) in Hangzhou First People’s Hospital affiliated to Westlake University Medical School from Jan. 2010 to Aug. 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, and the independent risk factors of PTMC and PTC CLNM were identified by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. According to different gender and HT status, the patients were divided into male group, female group, HT group and non-HT group. The optimal age threshold and diagnostic efficacy of CLNM in each subgroup were determined by Receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) .Results:The proportion of CLNM in 3451 PTMCs and 664 PTCs was 27.2% (937/3451) and 58.9% (391/664) ( χ2=256.565, P<0.050), respectively. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis showed that larger tumor ( OR 1.230), male ( OR 2.085), older age ( OR 0.960) and HT ( OR 0.697) were independent predictors of the occurrence of CLNM in PTMC. Only male ( OR 1.460) and older ( OR 0.963) PTC were independently associated with CLNM. Subgroup analysis showed that the age-predicted AUC of CLNM in male, HT and non-HT patients in PTC were higher than that of PTMC, which were 0.642-0.689 and 0.635-0.659, respectively. The age thresholds of female, HT and non-HT subgroups in PTC were lower than those in PTMC, which were 38.5 to 39.5 years old and 41.5 to 42.5 years old, respectively. Conclusions:Larger tumor, male, older patients and HT can independently predict the risk of CLNM in PTMC, while only male and older people can independently predict the risk of CLNM in PTC. There are certain differences in the age of CLNM occurrence between PTMC and PTC patients with different genders and HT combination status. It is of great significance to correctly understand these differences for providing personalized clinical treatment.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic efficacy of enhanced CT value in central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) .Methods:The 209 central lymph nodes of 209 patients with PTC confirmed by surgery and pathology were retrospectively analyzed, and they were divided into HT group and non-HT group, including 77 lymph nodes (52 negative and 25 positive) in the HT-PTC group and 132 lymph nodes (74 negative and 58 positive) in the non-HT group. The CT values of lymph nodes were measured on enhanced CT images, and the optimal thresholds and corresponding sensitivity and specificity of enhanced CT values in the two groups were analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic curve.Results:The enhanced CT values of metastatic lymph nodes in the two groups were (103.2±21.1) Hu and (101.9±25.4) Hu, respectively ( t=0.23, P>0.05), and the enhanced CT values of benign lymph nodes were (72.0±15.8) Hu and (68.5±10.9) Hu, respectively ( t=-1.38, P>0.05). The area under the curve of enhanced CT values in the HT group and non-HT group were 0.882 and 0.918, respectively, and the optimal thresholds were 78.8 Hu and 74.7 Hu, respectively, with corresponding sensitivity of 92.0% and 91.4%, and specificity of 67.3% and 77.0%, respectively, for the diagnosis of CLNM in the two groups. Conclusion:The enhanced CT value has high and similar diagnostic efficiency for CLNM in HT group and non-HT group, providing a theoretical basis for the early clinical development of individualized treatment plans.

Objective To construct and validate of a nomogram predictive model for high-volume lymph node metastasis(HVM)in multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma(MPTC).Methods Between January 2010 to January 2024,a total of 1146 and 234 patients with multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma(MPTC)were diagnosed at Hangzhou First People's Hospital(Center A)and Hangzhou Cancer Hospital(Center B),respectively.Patients from Center A were randomly allocated to training set(n=803)and testing set(n=343)in a 7:3 ratio,while those from Center B(n=234)comprised an external validation set.Independent risk factors for HVM in MPTC patients were identified through univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis in training set,leading to the development of a nomogram predictive model.The generalizability of this model was subsequently assessed using both testing set and external validation set.The area under the curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic curve,sensitivity,and specificity evaluate the discriminative ability of the model.Results The incidence of HVM was 13.3％at center A and 12.8％at center B.Logistic regression identified male gender(OR=2.91,95％CI:1.835-4.599),maximum lesion diameter(OR=1.05,95％CI:1.021-1.070),and age(OR=0.95,95％CI:0.936-0.972)as independent risk factors for HVM.Anomogram based on these factors showed an AUC of 0.767 with 72.6％sensitivity and 70.2％specificity in training set,and 0.838 with 94.9％sensitivity and 68.4％specificity in testing set,and 0.769 with 63.3％sensitivity and 84.3％specificity in external validation set.The calibration curve demonstrated good agreement with the ideal curve.Conclusion The prediction model constructed based on clinical risk factors can effectively predict the probability of HVM in MPTC patients.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of dual-phase enhanced CT for central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) .Methods:The CT data of 220 central lymph nodes in 182 cases of PTMC confirmed by surgery and pathology were retrospectively analyzed. The lymph nodes were divided into 0.3 cm-0.4 cm group, 0.4 cm-0.5 cm and ≥ 0.5 cm groups according to the size of them. The CT values of arterial phase and venous phase of lymph nodes were measured, respectively. The distribution of dual-phase CT values of lymph nodes in the three groups was analyzed by t test. The optimal threshold values of dual-phase enhanced CT values of lymph nodes in each group were obtained by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) . Results:The area under ROC curve of arterial phase CT in predicting CLNM was 0.717, 0.707 and 0.761, the optimal threshold was 71.4Hu, 63.3Hu and 72.9Hu, and the sensitivity and specificity were 50.0% and 92.3%, 63.6% and 81.0%, 52.4% and 82.9%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve of venous phase CT value in predicting CLNM was 0.744, 0.729, and 0.662, the optimal thresholds were 71.1 HU, 80.3 HU, and 61.3 HU, and the sensitivity and specificity were 52.8% and 87.2%, 54.2% and 86.7%, 82.6% and 46.7%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of dual-phase combined CT values in predicting CLNM in 3 groups were 44.1% and 94.7%, 50.0% and 88.1%, 52.4% and 85.4%, respectively.Conclusion:Dual-phase enhanced CT can effectively predict central lymph node metastasis of PTMC, and the combination of the two can further improve the specificity of predicting CLNM and provide an important basis for reducing unnecessary surgical trauma.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of lymph node size for ipsilateral central lymph node metastasis (ICLNM) of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) in CT examination.Methods:The CT data of 229 patients with single PTMC admitted to the Department of Oncology, Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine from Jan. 2018 to Jun. 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All cases were confirmed by surgery and pathology. The ipsilateral central lymph nodes were divided into <0.2 cm group, 0.2-0.4 cm group and ≥0.4 cm group according to their maximun diameters, and the distribution difference of positive and negative ICLNM among the three groups were observed and analyzed by χ 2 test. Results:In 229 PTMCs, the proportion of positive and negative ICLNM were 29.69% (68/229) and 70.31% (108/155) , respectively. Positive ICLNM in <0.2 cm group, 0.2-0.4 cm group and ≥0.4 cm group accounted for 11.43% (16/140) , 64.29% (36/56) and 81.82% (27/33) , respectively. When 0.2 cm and 0.4 cm were used as the threshold to determine positive ICLNM, the values of χ 2 and P between groups were 87.663 and <0.001. The sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing lymph node metastasis were 79.75% (63/79) and 82.67% (124/150) , 34.18% (27/79) and 96% (144/150) , respectively. The proportions of high enhancement, calcification and cystic degeneration were 3.2% (5/155) , 0.7% (1/155) and 0 (0/155) , respectively. Conclusions:In CT examination of patients with PTMC, the diameter of lymph nodes less than 0.2 cm highly indicates negative ICLNM. The proportion of positive ICLNM increased with increasing lymph node diameter, and the diameter of lymph nodes less than 0.4 cm highly indicates positive ICLNM.

Objective:To investigate the value of CT tumor-thyroid marginal contact range (MCR) for predicting capsular invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with a diameter>1.0 cm and papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMC) with a diameter ≤ 1.0 cm, and to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of direct CT signs for lymph node metastasis.Methods:The CT data of 148 patients with PTC (>1.0 cm) and 193 patients with PTMC confirmed by surgery and pathology were retrospectively analyzed from January 2017 to April 2020 at Hangzhou First People′s Hospital. MCR was evaluated based on CT images and classified as<1/4 tumor circumference or ≥1/4 tumor circumference. Direct CT signs of cervical lymph nodes were observed, including cystic change, microcalcification, hyperenhancement, short/long diameter≥0.5, clustered lymph nodes or central area turbidity. The difference in the distribution of MCR between PTC (>1.0 cm) and PTMC was compared using the χ 2 test, and the efficiency of MCR and direct CT signs for diagnosing capsular invasion and lymph node metastasis was calculated using the pathological results as the gold standard. Results:In 148 PTC (>1.0 cm) and 193 PTMC patients, the pathological results showed capsular invasion in 88.5% (131/148) and 57.0% (110/193), and lymph node metastasis in 71.6% (106/148) and 44.0% (85/193), respectively. In PTC (>1.0 cm) patients, MCR≥1/4 tumor circumference was more common in patients with capsular invasion (χ2=22.211, P<0.001) and lymph node metastasis (χ2=4.746, P=0.029), and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity for predicting capsular invasion and lymph node metastasis were 84.7% (111/131) and 64.7% (11/17), 83.0% (88/106) and 33.3% (14/42), respectively. In PTMC patients, MCR≥1/4 tumor circumference was more common in patients with capsular invasion (χ2=66.066, P<0.001) and lymph node metastasis (χ2=5.343, P=0.021), and its sensitivity and specificity for predicting capsular invasion and lymph node metastasis were 87.3% (96/110) and 69.9% (58/83), 71.8% (61/85) and 44.4% (48/108), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of direct CT signs for diagnosing lymph node metastasis in PTC (>1.0 cm) and PTMC were 89.6% and 73.8%, 69.4% and 76.9%, respectively. Conclusions:Both direct CT signs and MCR ≥ 1/4 tumor circumference can predict cervical lymph node metastasis in PTC patients, and the former had higher sensitivity and specificity. MCR≥1/4 tumor circumference has high efficiency for predicting capsular invasion in PTC patients.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of various ultrasonic signs for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) .Methods:The ultrasonic data of of 603 micronodular goiter (MNG) in 396 cases and 640 PTMC in 539 cases, which were confirmed by pathology from Jan. 2013 to Dec. 2016, were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different inspection time, all nodules were divided into model group (2013-2014 years) and test group (2015-2016 years) . The tumor morphology, internal echo, microcalcification, and aspect ratio (A/T) were observed. Chi-square test and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the distribution differences of the four ultrasound features in PTMC and MNG, and their diagnostic value was evaluated.Results:There were statistical difference between model group and test group in ultrasonic signs including tumors shape, internal echo, microcalcification and aspect ratio according single factor analysis (chi square value was 283.540 and 298.119, 63.130 and 87.400, 26.342 and 50.152, 169.918 and 181.405; P<0.05) ;Multivariable Logistic regression analysis showed that irregular shape, hypoecho, A/T>1 and microcalcification were more common in PTMC ( P< 0.05) . OR values were 18.410 and 19.231, 2.560 and 6.380, 9.379 and 6.724, 3.102 and 8.830, and AUC prediction probability values were 0.916 and 0.911 respectively. Conclusions:Irregular shape, internal hypoechoic, microcalcification and A/T>1 are stable important ultrasonographic signs in predicting PTMC. Comprehensive analysis of various ultrasonic signs can improve the diagnostic efficiency.

Objective:To investigate the value of CT enhancement degree in diagnosing cervical lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) .Methods:CT data of 535 neck lymph nodes with pathological diagnosis in 251 cases were retrospectively analyzed. The ratio and difference between the density of CT enhancement and plain scan were calculated. Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze the distribution of ratio and difference in lymph node metastasis group and non-metastasis group. The optimal thresholds of ratio and difference in the two groups were obtained by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Results:535 cervical lymph nodes including 271 in metastatic group and 264 in non-metastatic group. The ratios of two groups were 2.30 (2.04, 2.76) and 1.66 (1.51, 1.81) ( Z=-16.94, P<0.05) respectively, and the differences were 58 (49, 76) Hu and 31 (22, 36) Hu ( Z=-18.045, P<0.05) respectively. When the ROC area under curve of ratio and difference between the two groups were 0.923 and 0.951 respectively, the optimal thresholds were 1.93 and 39.5Hu respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing lymph node metastasis were 84.9% and 87.1%、91.5% and 86.0%respectively.The sensitivity and specificity of combination of the two diagnosing lymph node metastasis were 82.3% and 91.7%. Conclusions:The ratio of enhancement and plain scan density ≥1.93 and the difference ≥39.5Hu have a high diagnostic efficiency for cervical lymph node metastasis of PTC. The specificity of the two is similar, but the latter has higher sensitivity. The combination of the two can significantly improve the specificity, thereby reducing unnecessary surgical trauma.

Objective:To investiqate the clinical and CT features of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.Methods:The clinical and CT data of 23 anaplastic thyroid carcinoma patients were retrospectively analyzed, mainly including gender, age, chief complaint, and CT signs such as tumor size, distribution status, morphology, calcification, necrosis, peripheral invasion, lymph node metastasis and lung metastasis.Results:Among 23 cases of ATC, the ratio of male to female was 7∶16. 21 cases (91.3%) had hoarseness or cervical mass, 8 cases (34.8%) had rapid enlargement of tumor size, 6 cases (26.1%) with lesion in unilateral lobe, 8 cases (34.8%) in unilateral lobe + isthmus, 9 cases (39.1%) in bilateral lobe + isthmus, diameter of tumors was (6.1 ± 1.7) cm, 20 cases (87.0%) had irregular shape of tumors. 16 cases (69.6%) with rough calcification, 17 cases (73.9%) with extensive necrosis, 15 cases (65.2%) with tracheoesophageal groove extension, 18 cases (78.3%) with cervical lymph node metastasis, 8 cases (34.8%) with lung metastasis, 16 cases (69.6%) with trachea invasion, 7 cases (30.4%) with common carotid artery invasion, and 10 cases (43.5%) with internal jugular vein invasion.Conclusions:The clinical features include elderly women patients, big tumors size, rapid enlargement of tumor size, CT signs include irregular shape, coarse calcification, extensive necrosis, tracheoesophageal groove extension, cervical lymph node metastasis, lung metastasis and invasion of trachea, common carotid artery and internal jugular vein. These features have great value in the diagnosis of ATC and evaluation of peripheral structure invasion, cervical lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis.

Objective To explore the value of ultrasound gray scale ratio (UGSR) in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC) with different sizes.Methods A retrospective study was made in 702 patients with 1107 nodules which were confirmed by surgery in the Department of Oncology or fineneedle aspiration of HangZhou First people's Hospital,Zhejiang University of medical school from Jan.2016 to Oct.2017.All the thyroid nodules were divided into three groups:D≤ 1 cm group,1＜D≤2 cm group and ＞2 cm group according to their sizes.The UGSR of the PTC and NG were obtained through the RAD info system.Their differences were analyzed and ROC was established to confirm the optimal threshold in the differential diagnosis between PTC and NG among the groups.Results There were 483 PTC and 624 NG in this study.The UGSR of D≤ 1 cm group,1＜D≤2 cm group and ＞2 cm group of PTC and NG were (0.48±0.12) vs (0.76±0.22)(t=33.21,P=0.00);(0.52±0.17) vs(0.80±0.21)(t=1.30,P=0.00) and (0.63±0.20) vs(0.89±0.24)(t=3.58,P=0.00) respectively.The area under the ROC of UGSR in the differentiation of PTC and NG in the three groups were 0.873,0.840 and 0.811 respectively.The Youden indexes were greatest (0.631,0.536 and 0.535 respectively),when the cut-offs of the UGSR were 0.682,0.652 and 0.831 respectively.The sensitivity and specificity to diagnose PTC were 94.8％ and 68.0％,75.0％ and 78.6％,80.3％ and 73.2％ respectively in the three groups.Conclusions The best UGSR value of PTC was variant in thyroid nodule with different size.Recognition of these differences accurately could improve the pre-operative diagnostic accuracy of PTC.Also the method is simple to operate and easy to apply.