Evidence-based integration of clinicopathological factors with the risk of papillary thyroid carcinoma lateral cervical lymph node metastasis: systematic review and meta-analysis and subgroup study

The following clinicopathological and ultrasonic features were significantly correlated with lateral neck lymph node metastasis, such as male, ETE, tumor size >2 cm, multifocality, CLNM, capsular invasion, high tumor location, calcification, and hyperechoic. It is suggested that for suspected metastatic lymph nodes, lateral neck lymph node dissection can be considered in patients with the above risk factors to reduce the recurrence and distant metastasis of PTC. However, this study has some limitations, such as no new biomarkers were included, high heterogeneity, and geographic bias.