Prediction of central lymph node metastasis from papillary thyroid microcarcinoma by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT and ultrasonography.

Purpose The presence of central lymph node (LN) metastasis increases the risk of cervical LN recurrence or distant metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). We investigated the value of preoperative 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG PET)–computerized tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US) to predict central LN metastasis from PTMC.