Association of computed tomography feature with cervical lymph node metastasis in elderly patients with papillary thyroid cancer

ObjectiveTo assess the relationship between characteristic signs of computed tomography(CT)and cervical lymph node metastasis in elderly patients with papillary thyroid cancer.MethodsFrom January 2008 to December 2013,400 elderly patients with papillary thyroid cancer were selected from 4 hospitals.The relationship between characteristic signs of CT and cervical lymphnode metastasis was analysed.ResultsAmong the patients,there were 259(64.74%)with cervical lymph node metastasis.There were no statistically significant differences between the patients with metastasis and without metastasis in the number of tumors(χ²=0.60,P=0.44),tumor morphology(χ²=0.01,P=0.94),and calcification(χ²=0.86,P=0.35),but there were statistically significant differences in tumor size(χ²=64.86,P<0.01),necrosis(χ²=10.19,P<0.01),surrounding invasion(χ²=75.83,P<0.01),and enhancement on CT(χ²=64.95,P<0.01).ConclusionThe characteristic signs of tumor size,surrounding invasion and enhancement on CT may be the indications of cervical lymph node metastasis in elderly male patients with papillary thyroid cancer.