Effects of Patient and Tumor Characteristics on Central Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Guide for Selective Node Dissection.

A selective prophylactic CLND strategy can be applied in cN0 patients. As the tumor diameter increases in PTC, both the risk of CLNM and the number of MLN increase. Lymphovascular and extracapsular invasion are other factors that increase the risk. The follicular variant is associated with a lower risk of CLNM. Male patients who are under the age of 45 and have a tumor diameter of 9.5 mm or more are definite candidates for prophylactic CLND.