Figure 3.

Ranks of the top 10 variables for the prediction of central lymph node metastasis. Variables were ranked using a classifier-specific importance evaluator based on machine learning algorithms. The variables are ordered according to the mean ranking of three potential models, which were GBDT, RFC and ANN. A lower rank represents more predictive importance. For example, age was ranked 1st, 3rd, and 10th in GBDT, ANN, and RFC, respectively. LNs, lymph nodes; Micro-Cal, microcalcification; TPO-Ab, thyroid peroxidase antibody; TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone; Ir. shape, irregular shape; Cap. invasion, capsular invasion; Hypo-echo, hypoechogenicity; GBDT, gradient boosting decision tree; RFC, random forest classifier; ANN, artificial neural network.