Objective To explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound guide fine-needle aspiration cytology（CEUS-FNAC）in the diagnosis of lateral cervical lymph nodes（LCLNs）metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma（PTC）.Methods One hundred and twenty-eight cases of PTC patients who underwent preoperative LCLNS fine-needle aspiration cytology and subsequently surgical treatment were selected. All of them were randomly divided into control group and experimental group with 64 cases each. Conventional ultrasound guide fine-needle aspiration cytology（US-FNAC）was performed on 113 suspicious LCLNs in control group

and CEUS-FNAC was performed on 118 suspicious LCLNs in experimental group. Taken pathological results as the golden standard

and the sensitivity

specificity and accuracy of US-FNAC and CEUS-FNAC in the diagnosis of LCLNs were calculated and compared. The diagnosis value of different sizes（≤10 mm or >10 mm）of LCLNs by US-FNAC and CEUS-FNAC were further analyzed.Results The sensitivity

specificity and accuracy of US-FNAC in the diagnosis of LCLNs metastasis in control group were 72.3%

79.2% and 75.2%

respectively

and of CEUS-FNAC in experimental group were 90.2%

93.5% and 91.5%

respectively. The differences between the two methods were statistically significant（both P<0.05）.When the maximum diameter of LCLNs ≤10 mm

the sensitivity and accuracy of CEUS-FNAC in the diagnosis of metastatic lymph node were higher than those of US-FNAC

and the difference were statistically significant（both P<0.05）. When maximum diameter of LCLNs >10 mm

there were no significant differences in the sensitivity

specificity and accuracy between CEUS-FNAC and US-FNAC.Conclusion CEUS-FNAC has a higher diagnosis efficiency of LCLNs metastasis in PTC patients

especially for LCLNs with maximum diameter ≤10 mm

which has an important clinical diagnostic value.