Published online Jan 6, 2019. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v7.i1.49
Peer-review started: November 12, 2018
First decision: November 28, 2018
Revised: December 1, 2018
Accepted: December 12, 2018
Article in press: December 12, 2018
Published online: January 6, 2019
Core tip: Cervical lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma affects the prognosis and treatment of patients. Currently, contrast-enhanced ultrasound and ultrasound elastography have been gradually applied to the diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis. However, it is not clear whether contrast-enhanced ultrasound and elastography combined with conventional ultrasound improve the accuracy of lymph node metastasis diagnosis. In this study, we analyzed the differences among conventional ultrasound, contrast-enhanced ultrasound and elastography in metastatic and reactive lymph nodes, and used a logistic regression model to fit the probability equation of lymph node metastasis to improve the diagnostic accuracy of metastatic lymph nodes.