Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41367920›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in endocrinology2025

Hashimoto's thyroiditis reduces central lymph node metastasis risk in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: an integrated meta-analysis.

Linkun Zhong, Changlian Xie, Xiaoxiong Gan, Jianhang Miao, Yaming Wu, Yunyun Yang, Chizhuai Liu, Yutong Li

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in endocrinology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Linkun Zhong *The Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
Changlian Xie *The Intensive Care Unit, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
Xiaoxiong Gan *Department of Thyroid Surgery, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Jianhang MiaoThe Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
Yaming WuThe Department of General Surgery, Xuwen County People's Hospital, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China.
Yunyun YangThe Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
Chizhuai LiuThe Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
Yutong LiThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most common comorbidity in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). The necessity of prophylactic central lymph node dissection (CLND) in clinically node-negative (cN0) PTMC cases remains a topic of debate. This study evaluates the risk of cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) in PTMC patients with concurrent HT. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the risk of central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in patients with PTMC concurrent with HT. By synthesizing existing literature and conducting a case-control analysis, we seek to enhance individualized risk assessment and inform surgical decision-making for PTMC patients. Methods: We conducted a search for studies published before 1 June 2025 that assessed the risk of CLNM in PTMC concurrent with HT on PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. A total of 17 studies involving 11,873 cases were included in this meta-analysis. Additionally, we performed a case-control study through a retrospective analysis of 303 consecutive PTMC patients who underwent surgery between 2017 and 2024. Results: The meta-analysis indicated that HT was present in 3,175 of the 11,873 PTMC cases (26.7%). The rate of positive CLNM was significantly lower in the HT group (32.6%) compared to the non-HT group (38.4%), with an odds ratio of 0.75. The false-negative rate was as low as 27.5% when combining ultrasonography (US) and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) to evaluate CLN status. Funnel plots showed no significant publication bias. In the retrospective analysis, the CLN examination rate in the HT group was significantly higher than in the non-HT group, yet the incidence of CLNM was lower in the HT group. ROC curve analysis indicated that the TPOAb cutoff point for CLNM was 17.9, with sensitivity and specificity values of 53% and 68%, respectively. Conclusion: HT may reduce the risk of CLNM in patients with PTMC, suggesting a protective role. Predictive, preventive, and reliable preoperative evaluations using ultrasound and FNAB enhance the assessment of lymph node status, with TPOAb serving as an important marker. These insights support the development of personalized strategies for early intervention and improved patient management in PTMC. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD420251174681.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, PapillaryHashimoto DiseaseLymphatic MetastasisThyroid NeoplasmsCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansRisk Factorsclinically node-negative (cN0)fine-needle aspiration biopsiesHashimoto diseaselymphatic metastasispapillary carcinoma of thyroid

Identifiers

PMID41367920
PMCPMC12682656

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.