Prediction of Lymph Node Metastasis Using a Quantitative Scale in Patients With Papillary Thyroid Cancer

What this Trial Is About

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has been increasing in recent years, with 20% to 50% of patients experiencing lymph node metastasis. Lymph node involvement is often linked to cancer recurrence after surgery. There is debate about whether to perform prophylactic central lymph node dissection (PCND) during thyroidectomy, as it can help prevent recurrence but may also increase postoperative complications. This research aims to develop a new scoring scale to better predict which PTC patients need lymph node dissection before surgery, helping to avoid unnecessary procedures for some and prevent recurrence for others. The study collects multifactorial data from over 1,000 patients who had thyroidectomy between 2021 and 2023. Data include patient demographics, tumor characteristics, ultrasound findings, lab results, pathology, and genetic testing. Using machine learning, researchers will identify key factors linked to lymph node metastasis and create a quantitative scoring system. The scale will then be clinically validated by scoring new patients and comparing the predictions to actual surgical findings to assess accuracy. Participants' information such as age, gender, weight, tumor size, ultrasound features, and genetic markers will be analyzed up to three years. The study observes whether lymph node dissection was performed and the presence of metastasis or tumor invasion. This approach helps evaluate the predictive power of the scale, aiming to improve patient-specific surgical decisions and reduce complications by avoiding unnecessary lymph node removal. The study runs until October 2026, involving data collection and ongoing clinical validation.

Prediction of Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients With Thyroid Malignancy by a New Scale