Objective:

To develop and validate intra-tumoral and peri-tumoral radiomics models based on dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to preoperatively predict lymph node metastasis (LNM) in thyroid cancer patients with type 2 diabetes.

Approach:

Key Findings:

• The 2 mm peri-tumoral region yielded a higher AUC than the 1 mm region in all cohorts, with statistical significance in the training cohort and a consistent trend in the external validation cohorts.
• The combined radiomics model achieved AUCs of 0.930 (95% CI: 0.876–0.964), 0.907 (95% CI: 0.796–0.968), and 0.865 (95% CI: 0.739–0.941) in the training and external validation cohorts.
• Calibration curves showed good agreement between predicted and actual outcomes.
• Decision curve analysis demonstrated substantial clinical benefit.

Interpretation:

The CEUS-based combined radiomics model using intra-tumoral and 2 mm peri-tumoral features provides an effective tool for preoperative LNM prediction in thyroid cancer patients with type 2 diabetes.

Conclusion:

The study presents a non-invasive and accurate preoperative assessment tool for predicting LNM in high-risk diabetic populations.

Attribution Notice

This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.