Conventional US, elastography, and contrast enhanced US features of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma predict central compartment lymph node metastases.

Lymph node metastases at the time of diagnosis have a major impact on both therapeutic strategy and tumor recurrence for patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Our objective was to evaluate the usefulness of PTMC characteristics on ultrasonography for predicting central compartment lymph node metastases (CCLNM) of PTMC. One hundred twenty seven patients who underwent surgery for PTMC were enrolled in this study.