*3.3. Predictive Factors of Poor RFS in Patients with Multifocal PTCs*

The univariable Cox proportional hazards model indicated that only LN metastasis (hazards ratio [HR]: 5.370, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.388–20.785) was significantly associated with recurrence, and the operative extent (HR of thyroid lobectomy: 1.666, 95% CI: 0.353–7.870) was not predictive of the risk of recurrence (Table 3). LN metastasis (HR: 4.863, 95% CI: 1.179–20.056) retained statistical significance in multivariable analysis.

**Table 3.** Univariable and multivariable analysis for predictive factors of recurrence in patients with multifocal PTCs.


HR, hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval; ETE, extrathyroidal extension; LN, lymph node.
