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Updated: Aug 26, 2025

Transoral Robotic Total Thyroidectomy and Bilateral Central Regional Lymph Node Dissection for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: September 15, 2023
Risks of central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma with or without multifocality in at least one
Yu Heng1, Zheyu Yang2, Juiming Lin3
1ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, China.
Purposes:
To quantitatively predict central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) risks by comparing the clinicopathological features of different multifocal manifestations in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) patients.
Methods:
A total of 998 PTC patients from three medical centers were retrospectively analyzed.
Results:
PTC patients with multifocal lesions in at least one thyroid lobe (MF group) yielded significantly higher CLNM rates than those with unifocal lesions in one or both lobes (UF group). Multifocality in at least one lobe rather than bilateral presence was confirmed to be an independent risk factor of CLNM for PTC patients. Four (age, gender, maximum tumor diameter, and thyroid capsular invasion (TCI)) and three (age, gender, and TCI) factors were proven to be independent risk factors of CLNM for patients within UF and MF groups, respectively. Predictive nomograms were established for these patients based on their respective high-risk factors. The accuracy and validity of these newly-created models were verified using C-index and calibration curves. Patients within UF and MF groups possessing significantly different CLNM risks based on individualized nomogram risk scores were further classified into different subgroups. A detailed CLNM risk stratification flow chart covering all PTC patients was then established.
Conclusion:
A meticulous evaluating system that quantifiesCLNM risk for PTC patients with unifocal lesions in one or both lobes and multifocal lesions in at least one lobe was established.
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