Clinical application of carbon nanoparticles suspension in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To study the detected number of overall and metastatic lymph nodes and the negatively-stained parathyroid glands with the carbon nanoparticles injection. Methods This retrospective analysis included the clinical and pathological data of 284 patients. Among them, 70 were injected with carbon nanoparticles suspension (the trial group), the other 214 patients undergoing conventional surgery (the control group). Routine pathological examination was adopted in all resected specimens. Results The total number of detected lymph nodes was 1 841 and 2 828 in the two groups, respectively. The lymph nodes detection rate of the trial group was superior to that of the control group (Z=-4.112, P<0.01) .There were 481 and 754 metastatic lymph nodes detected in the trial group and control group; the detection rate of the trial group was superior to that of the control group (Z=-2.457, P=0.014). The lymph nodes and metastatic lymph nodes of level VI detection rate of the trial group were superior to those of the control group (Z=-3.819, P<0.01). Pathologic results of the specimens showed that parathyroid glands tissues were less found in the trial group than the control group, 25.7% and 39.7% respectively(Z=-2.521, P=0.012) . Conclusion Carbon nanoparticles suspension can increase the detection of overall lymph nodes in thyroid operations and it is an economic, less traumatic approach to protect the parathyroid glands. Key words: Papillary thyroid carcinoma; Carbon nanoparticles; Lymphatic metastasis; Parathyroid glands