Objective To investigate the relationship between the conventional ultrasonic features and quantitativeparameters of shear wave elastography（SWE）of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma（PTMC）and central lymph node metastasis.MethodsA total of 116 nodules were collected from 102 patients with PTMC who underwent thyroidectomy and central lymphnode dissection

they were divided into metastasis group（36 cases）and non-metastasis group（66 cases）according to the centrallymph node metastasis of postsurgery pathology. The quantitative parameters of SWE（Emax

Emin

Emean）were comparedbetween the two groups.The receiver operating characteristic（ROC） curve was used to analyze the value of SWE quantitativeparameters in PTMC for central lymph node metastasis. The correlation between ultrasonic features and SWE quantitativeparameters of PTMC and central lymph node metastasis were analyzed by Logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe differencesbetween Emax and Emean between two groups were statistically significant（both P<0.05）.ROC curve analysis showed takingEmax 43.35 k Pa and Emean 30.15 k Pa as critical values

the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing central region lymph nodemetastasis in PTMC were 87.0%

72.9% and 78.3%

61.4%

and the area under the curve were 0.851 and 0.752

respectively.Univariate analysis showed that multiple lesions

irregular margin and shape

microcalcification

invasion of tunica media andEmax>43.43 k Pa were risk factors for lymph node metastasis in PTMC central region（all P<0.05）. Multivariate Logisticregression analysis showed that multiple cesions

invasion of tunica media and Emax>43.43 k Pa were independent risk factors forcentral lymph nodes metastasis of PTMC（OR=0.259

6.662

16.684

all P<0.05）.ConclusionSWE can predict the centrallymph nodes metastasis of PTMC. The risk of PTMC central lymph node metastasis is significantly increased when multiplecesions

invasion of tunica media and Emax>43.43 k Pa.