Modification of the eight-edition tumor-node-metastasis staging system with N1b for papillary thyroid carcinoma: A multi-institutional cohort study

This multicenter study reveals that the presence of lateral lymph node metastasis affects disease mortality in PTC, especially in older patients. The sub-classification of stage II in older patients improves DSS predictability. This simple modification of TNM-8 provides better prognostic information for patients with PTC.