Table 2.
Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses of factors associated with carotid triangle lymph node metastasis.
| Variable | CAT− (n = 236) | CAT+ (n = 174) | Univariable analysis | Multivariable analysis | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR (95% CI) | P value | Adjusted OR (95% CI) | P value | |||
| Gender | ||||||
| Male | 90 | 72 | Reference | — | — | |
| Female | 146 | 102 | 0.873 (0.585–1.304) | 0.507 | — | — |
| Age | ||||||
| <45 years | 166 | 117 | Reference | — | — | |
| ≥45 years | 70 | 57 | 1.155 (0.756–1.762) | 0.503 | — | — |
| Ethnicity | ||||||
| Han | 228 | 169 | Reference | — | — | |
| Non-Han | 8 | 5 | 0.843 (0.251–2.573) | 0.768 | — | — |
| Diabetes | ||||||
| No | 226 | 168 | Reference | — | — | |
| Yes | 10 | 6 | 0.807 (0.270–2.217) | 0.684 | — | — |
| Hypertension | ||||||
| No | 221 | 161 | Reference | — | — | |
| Yes | 15 | 13 | 1.190 (0.543–2.573) | 0.659 | — | — |
| Hyperthyroidism | ||||||
| No | 226 | 166 | Reference | — | — | |
| Yes | 10 | 8 | 1.089 (0.408–2.820) | 0.860 | — | — |
| Hashimoto's thyroiditis | ||||||
| No | 185 | 139 | Reference | — | — | |
| Yes | 51 | 35 | 0.913 (0.560–1.476) | 0.713 | — | — |
| TSH, uIU/mL | 1.74 (1.06–2.49) | 1.77 (1.27–2.57) | 1.059 (0.992–1.131) | 0.085 | — | — |
| FT3, pmol/L | 5.01 (4.60–5.50) | 4.93 (4.57–5.50) | 1.076 (0.814–1.422) | 0.607 | — | — |
| FT4, pmol/L | 11.97 (10.43–13.05) | 11.26 (9.98–12.59) | 1.066 (0.985–1.153) | 0.115 | — | — |
| TGAB, IU/mL | 0.48 (0.05–12.63) | 0.52 (0–3.34) | 1.000 (0.999–1.001) | 0.479 | — | — |
| TPOAB, IU/mL | 0.90 (0.39–17.38) | 0.96 (0.35–21.62) | 1.000 (0.999–1.001) | 0.935 | — | — |
| TG, ng/mL | 19.33 (3.15–60.79) | 18.61 (6.94–55.12) | 1.000 (0.999–1.001) | 0.941 | — | — |
| Tumor size | ||||||
| ≤2 cm | 175 | 104 | Reference | Reference | ||
| >2 cm | 51 | 70 | 1.931 (1.270–2.947) | 0.002 | 2.243 (1.431–3.547) | <0.001 |
| Capsular invasion | ||||||
| No | 157 | 112 | Reference | — | — | |
| Yes | 79 | 62 | 1.100 (0.729–1.660) | 0.650 | — | — |
| Tumor location | ||||||
| Middle | 103 | 75 | Reference | Reference | ||
| Upper | 69 | 85 | 1.692 (1.097–2.621) | 0.018 | 1.791 (1.145–2.816) | 0.011 |
| Lower | 64 | 14 | 0.300 (0.152–0.562) | <0.001 | 0.295 (0.147–0.559) | <0.001 |
| Composition | ||||||
| Solid | 220 | 162 | Reference | — | — | |
| Non-solid | 16 | 12 | 1.019 (0.460–2.202) | 0.963 | — | — |
| Aspect ratio | ||||||
| <1 | 57 | 27 | Reference | Reference | ||
| ≥1 | 179 | 147 | 1.734 (1.053–2.913) | 0.034 | 2.181 (1.280–3.802) | 0.005 |
| Blood flow | ||||||
| Poor | 130 | 90 | Reference | — | — | |
| Normal | 9 | 10 | 1.605 (0.623–4.192) | 0.324 | — | — |
| Rich | 97 | 74 | 1.102 (0.735–1.652) | 0.638 | — | — |
| Echogenicity | ||||||
| Hypoechoic | 197 | 153 | Reference | — | — | |
| Non-hypoechoic | 39 | 21 | 0.693 (0.392–1.227) | 0.209 | — | — |
| Lymph node calcification | ||||||
| No calcification | 28 | 19 | Reference | — | — | |
| Microcalcification | 147 | 111 | 1.078 (0.575–2.021) | 0.814 | — | — |
| Macrocalcification | 26 | 18 | 1.020 (0.442–2.356) | 0.963 | — | — |
| Other calcification | 35 | 26 | 1.392 (0.576–3.364) | 0.463 | — | — |
| Margin | ||||||
| Clear | 96 | 62 | Reference | — | — | |
| Unclear | 140 | 112 | 1.239 (0.828–1.862) | 0.300 | — | — |
Values are presented as n for categorical variables or median (IQR) for continuous variables.
Univariable analyses were performed using binary logistic regression for each candidate variable. Tumor location was entered as a categorical variable with middle-pole tumors as the reference category.
Multivariable analysis included tumor size, tumor location, and aspect ratio. ORs in the multivariable columns are adjusted estimates.
OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; CAT, carotid triangle; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone; FT3, free triiodothyronine; FT4, free thyroxine; TGAB, thyroglobulin antibody; TPOAB, thyroid peroxidase antibody; TG, thyroglobulin.