Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42388859›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in endocrinology2026

Posterior minimal extrathyroidal extension as an independent risk factor for lateral lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma: a retrospective study based on a nomogram prediction model.

Qi Zhao, Tong Li, Haochang Gu, Bin Lv, Nan Liu

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Article in Frontiers in endocrinology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Qi ZhaoDepartment of Thyroid Surgery, General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Tong LiThyroid and Breast Surgery, The Fourth People's Hospital of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Haochang GuDepartment of Thyroid Surgery, General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Bin LvDepartment of Thyroid Surgery, General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Nan LiuDepartment of Thyroid Surgery, General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Extrathyroidal extension (ETE) is a risk factor for lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the different effects of posterior minimal extrathyroidal extension (post-mETE) and anterior minimal extrathyroidal extension (ant-mETE) on LLNM remain unclear. This research aimed to investigate the influence of post-mETE and ant-mETE on LLNM and develop a nomogram to guide perioperative management in PTC patients at high risk for LLNM. Methods: This retrospective study included consecutive PTC patients treated from December 2017 to March 2025. The identification of clinical and pathological predictive factors for LLNM was conducted using both univariate and multivariate analytical methods, and statistically significant variables were included to construct a predictive nomogram, followed by internal validation. Results: Among 1798 patients with PTC, 391 cases (21.75%) were pathologically confirmed to have LLNM. Compared to ant-mETE, post-mETE was significantly associated with a higher incidence of LLNM (p<0.001). The results of the multivariate analysis showed that there were 6 independent predictive factors for LLNM: maximum tumor diameter >1 cm (OR = 3.022), bilateral thyroid involvement (OR = 2.198), multifocality of the tumor (OR = 1.374), number of central lymph node metastases ≥2 (OR = 8.083), tumor located at the upper pole (OR = 2.679), and post-mETE (OR = 2.036). The nomogram constructed in this study demonstrated good discrimination performance (AUC = 0.850) and clinical applicability. Conclusion: Compared to ant-mETE, PTC patients with post-mETE were more likely to develop LLNM. The predictive nomogram demonstrated high accuracy in forecasting LLNM and facilitated the identification of occult lymph node metastases. This capability assisted in determining the need for adjuvant radioactive iodine therapy or stricter follow-up management.

Indexed as

Lymphatic MetastasisNomogramsThyroid Cancer, PapillaryThyroid NeoplasmsAdultFemaleHumansLymph NodesMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsThyroidectomyextrathyroidal extensionlateral lymph node metastasispapillary thyroid carcinomapredictive modelrisk factors

Identifiers

PMID42388859
PMCPMC13318688

What Socratic holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.