Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026
Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Visualization in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Thyroid Cancer
Published on: June 9, 2023
Performance of CT-based Node-RADS for assessing cervical regional lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid
Ying Xiang1, Dandan Huang1, Yuelang Zhang1
1Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Objectives:
The Node Reporting and Data System (Node-RADS) score system was recently proposed to better characterize lymph node metastasis (LNM). The study aimed to explore the diagnostic performance of Node-RADS score system for predicting LNM on CECT (contrast-enhanced CT) scans in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).
Methods:
In total, 191 PTC patients (61 males and 130 females, average age: 45.37 ± 13.22 years), who underwent preoperative CECT, US examinations and lymph nodes (LNs) dissection, were retrospectively analyzed through Node-RADS CECT score system. Moreover, the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and Youden's index were calculated for Node-RADS CECT score and individual criteria.
Results:
Overall, 191 patients with a total of 300 LNs (204 metastatic and 96 benign) were assessed. At the LNs level, best performance was found for Node-RADS CECT score ≥ 2 and ≥ 4 of central LNs and lateral LNs (AUC: 0.772 and 0.756), respectively. Node-RADS CECT score was shown to be an independent predictor of LNM (odds ratio [OR] = 2.41, p < 0.05). Among all criteria, combined with Node-RADS CECT score and US achieved the best diagnostic efficiency in evaluation of LNM, with AUCs of 0.846 in central group and 0.872 in lateral group (Delong test: p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
The Node-RADS CECT score system provides a standardized LNM assessment. Combined Node-RADS CECT score and US would lead to an enhancement in predictive accuracy. Whereas, the rates of LNM ranged from 15.32% to 35.48% at the node level for score 1 and 2, which should be validated in the future research.
