ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors for central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in patients with clinically negative lymph node (cN0 stage) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).MethodsThe clinicopathological data of 250 patients with cN0 PTC who underwent thyroidectomy and central lymph node dissection (CLND) in Department of General Surgery of Xuzhou Central Hospital from June 2016 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The influencing factors of CLNM in patients with cN0 PTC were analyzed by univariate analysis and binary logistic regression, and then R software was used to establish a nomogram prediction model, receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the differentiation degree of the model, and Bootstrap method was used for internal verification to evaluate the calibration degree of the model.ResultsCLNM occurred in 147 of 250 patients with cN0 PTC, with an incidence of 58.8%. Univariate analysis showed that multifocal, bilateral, tumor diameter, and age were correlated with CLNM (P<0.01). The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that multifocal, bilateral tumors, age≥45 years old, and tumor diameter>1 cm were independent risk factors for CLNM in patients with cN0 PTC (P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the nomogram prediction model established on this basis was 0.738, and the calibration prediction curve in the calibration diagram fitted well with the ideal curve.ConclusionsCLNM is more likely to occur in PTC. The nomogram model constructed in this study can be used as an auxiliary means to predict CLNM in clinical practice.