Table 2 Ultrasound and pathological features of DTC suspicious LNs
Variables | Training set | Internal test set | p1 | External validation | p2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LN number | 427 | 184 | 115 | ||
LN location | 0.459 | <0.001 | |||
Middle neck | 9 (2.1%) | 7 (3.8%) | 52 (45.2%) | ||
Left neck | 204 (47.8%) | 89 (48.4%) | 6 (5.2%) | ||
Right neck | 214 (50.1%) | 88 (47.8%) | 57 (49.6%) | ||
LN regions | 0.303 | 0.091 | |||
I + II | 18 (4.2%) | 5 (2.7%) | 6 (5.2%) | ||
III + IV + V | 260 (60.9%) | 104 (56.5%) | 57 (49.6%) | ||
VI + VII | 149 (34.9%) | 75 (40.8%) | 52 (45.2%) | ||
Size(mm) | 0.008 | ||||
Long axis | 10 (7, 13) | 9 (7, 12) | 0.093 | 12 (8, 15) | |
Short axis | 5 (4, 6) | 4 (3.75, 6) | 0.474 | 6 (5, 7.5) | |
Oval shape | 0.192 | 0.004 | |||
Yes | 173 (40.5%) | 85 (46.2%) | 64 (55.7%) | ||
No | 254 (59.5%) | 99 (53.8%) | 51 (44.3%) | ||
Hilum absence | 0.971 | <0.001 | |||
Yes | 300 (70.3%) | 129 (70.1%) | 103 (89.6%) | ||
No | 127 (29.7%) | 55 (29.9%) | 12 (10.4%) | ||
Focal hyperecho | 0.235 | 0.001 | |||
Yes | 122 (28.6%) | 44 (23.9%) | 51 (44.3%) | ||
No | 305 (71.4%) | 140 (76.1%) | 64 (55.7%) | ||
Cystic degeneration | 0.346 | 0.002 | |||
Yes | 30 (7%) | 17 (9.2%) | 19 (16.5%) | ||
No | 397 (93%) | 167 (90.8%) | 96(83.5%) | ||
Microcalcification | 0.276 | 0.025 | |||
Yes | 66 (15.5%) | 35 (19%) | 28 (24.3%) | ||
No | 361 (84.5%) | 149 (81%) | 87 (75.7%) | ||
CDFI | 0.574 | 0.002 | |||
None | 148 (34.7%) | 57 (31%) | 23 (20%) | ||
Hilar | 80 (18.7%) | 43 (23.4%) | 21 (18.3%) | ||
Peripheral | 70 (16.4%) | 31 (16.8%) | 16 (13.9%) | ||
Mixed | 129 (30.2%) | 53 (28.8%) | 55 (47.8%) | ||
Pathological diagnosis | 0.967 | <0.001 | |||
Malignant | 205 (48%) | 88 (47.8%) | 76 (66.1%) | ||
Benign | 222 (52%) | 96 (52.2%) | 39 (33.9%) |