[The role of medical imaging plus carbon nanoparticles to manage the cervical lymph nodes in patients with thyroid carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to discuss the role of the combination of carbon nanoparticles and medical imaging to manage the cervical lymph nodes in patients with thyroid carcinoma.

METHOD: Eighty one patients with thyroid carcinoma that primary treated were divided into two groups: trial group and control group. Carbon nanoparticles were injected into the thyroid gland of trial group patients. Central compartment (level VI) dissection, levels IIl and IV dissection, lateral node (levels II-V) dissection were performed respectively in all the patients on the basis of medical imaging and pathology. Total lymph nodes, metastasis lymph nodes, black stained lymph nodes and black stained metastasis lymph nodes of trial group were counted respectively in different dissection specimens. Total lymph nodes and metastasis lymph nodes of control group were counted respectively in different dissection specimens. Parathyroid glands of thyroid or central compartment dissection specimens were counted in two groups.

RESULT: In trial group, rate of staining lymph node was 80.0% in central neck dissection tissue, 54.9% in levels III and IV dissection specimen, 39.1% in lateral node dissection specimen. In central compartment dissection tissue, lymph nodes on average in control group were less than in trial group (3.03 ± 2.07 vs. 4.72 ± 2.97) (P < 0.01). The same was in levels III and lV dissection specimen (5.53 ± 3.78 vs. 10.29 ± 3.36) (P < 0.01). As for lateral node dissection specimen,there was no statistic difference in the two group (13.4 ± 9.67 vs. 14.56 ± 6.28) (P > 0.05). There was no statistic difference between control group and trial group for the metastasis lymph nodes in difference dissection specimens. Parathyroid gland was found in 3 thyroid or central compartment dissection specimens among trial group, which was found in 9 specimens among control group, the difference had statistical significance (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: During levels III and IV dissection in cN0 patients or central compartment dissection, lymph nodes can be signed well by carbon nanoparticles, which can improve the lymph node detection rate, but can not increase the lymph node detection rate in cN+ patients. Parathyroid gland can be preserved by carbon nanoparticles during the thyroid gland resection and central neck dissection.