Initial Analysis of CT Features and Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Elderly Female Patients With Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Objective To investigate the relationship between CT features and cervical Lymph Node metastasis in elderly female patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods From January 2008 to December 2013, a total of 200 elderly female patients with PTC who had been confirmed as PCT by postoperative histopathological examination were selected from 4 hospitals (2 hospitals from Beijing and 2 from Shenyang) by convenience sampling method. Analyze the relationship between the CT features (such as the number of tumors, tumor morphology, diameters of tumors, calcification, necrosis and different degrees of surrounding invasion) and cervical lymph node metastasis. The study protocol was approved by the Ethical Review Board of Investigation in Human Being of above-mentioned 4 hospitals. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Results Among all the 200 elderly female patients with PTC, there were 146 patients with cervical lymph node metastasis, while the other 54 patients without cervical lymph node metastasis. There were no statistically significant differences between patients of PTC with cervical lymph node metastasis and without cervical lymph node metastasis in the number of tumors and tumor morphology (P>0.05), while there were significant differences in diameters of tumors, enhancement, calcification, necrosis and surrounding invasion (P<0.05). Conclusion CT features may be the indications of lymphatic metastasis in elderly female patients with PCT. Key words: Thyroid carcinoma; Lymphatic metastasis; CT; Aged