Preoperative ultrasound-guided carbon nanoparticles localization for metastatic lymph nodes in papillary thyroid carcinoma during reoperation: A retrospective cohort study

Surface engineered multifunctional nano-systems for localised drug delivery against thyroid cancer: A review of current practices

Thyroid cancer, the most prevalent cancer of the endocrine system and cervical region, has experienced a significant increase in incidence over recent decades. Nanomedicine has fundamentally revolutionized cancer treatment, particularly through the development of multifunctional nano-therapeutics. The progress in this field has been facilitated by the distinctive properties of nanomaterials, such as their capacity to perform several functions, be modified, and offer various detection methods. These features allow for non-invasive and practical diagnostic techniques through versatile imaging. Surface engineering plays a pivotal role in the design of multifunctional nano-systems for localized drug delivery against thyroid cancer. Nano-systems can be customized via surface modification techniques, such as functionalization with targeting ligands and inclusion of therapeutic drugs. This customization allows the nano-systems to specifically target cancer cells while reducing the impact on non-target cells. As a result, bovine serum albumin-coated nanostructures have emerged as powerful diagnostic and targeting nanosystems for thyroid cancer. This targeted strategy enhances the effectiveness of cancer treatment while reducing overall body toxicity. This comprehensive review aims to provide an extensive overview of the latest advancements in surface-engineered nanoparticle-based approaches for both diagnosing and treating thyroid cancer. It highlights the promising research endeavors aimed at creating novel and effective multifunctional nanomedicine for localized delivery to thyroid cancer sites. The review examines different nanomedicines that have been developed for cancer treatment and diagnosis. It also analyzes the current trends, future possibilities, and obstacles in this rapidly advancing sector. By synthesizing the current state of knowledge on surface-engineered multifunctional nano-systems, this review contributes to a better understanding of their potential applications in thyroid cancer treatment and paves the way for future research directions in this promising field of nanomedicine.

Diagnostic utilities of washout CYFRA 21-1 combined with washout thyroglobulin for metastatic lymph nodes in thyroid cancer: a prospective study

Cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis is common in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). This study evaluated the utility of the washout CYFRA 21-1 level, combined with the thyroglobulin (Tg) concentration, in terms of diagnosis of LN metastasis. We prospectively enrolled 53 patients who underwent thyroid surgery to treat DTC with lateral cervical LN metastases. Preoperative ultrasound guided needle localization was used to surgical sampling of specific LNs during the operation. The intraoperative washout Tg and CYFRA 21-1 levels were measured in such LNs. The Tg and CYFRA 21-1 levels differed significantly between metastatic and benign LNs. The cutoff values were 2.63 ng/mL for washout CYFRA 21-1 and 22.62 ng/mL for Tg. Combined use of the washout Tg and CYFRA 21-1 levels afforded the highest diagnostic accuracy (92.5%), better than that of individual markers. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) were 94.6%, 90.0%, 91.4%, 93.8%, respectively. The conjunction of the washout CYFRA21-1 and Tg levels enhances the diagnostic accuracy of LN metastasis in DTC patients. The washout CYFRA 21-1 level may be useful when malignancy is suspected, especially in cases where the cytology and washout Tg findings do not provide definitive results.

Recurrent laryngeal never monitoring versus non-monitoring in parathyroid surgery

Background

Although intraoperative neural monitoring (IONM) is well established in thyroid surgery, it is less commonly analyzed in parathyroid operations. This study presents the results of IONM for primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism surgery.

Methods

We retrospectively assessed 270 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), 53 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), and 300 patients with thyroid cancer from June 2010 to June 2022 in one hospital in China. The follow-up was 12 months. Demographic, electromyography data from IONM, laboratory, and clinical information were collected. Laryngoscopy was collected from 109 patients with PHPT in whom IONM was not used. All groups were assessed by Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact probability method to verify the relationship between parathyroid size and location, duration of surgery, preoperative concordant localization, laryngeal pain, IONM outcomes, cure rate, and RLN injury. Visual analog scale (VAS) assessed laryngeal pain. RLN outcomes were measured according to nerves at risk (NAR).

Results

The study comprehended 918 NAR, that is 272, 105, 109, and 432 NAR for PHPT, SHPT with IONM, PHPT without IONM, and thyroid surgery control group, respectively. IONM successfully prevented RLN injury (P<0.001, P=0.012): Fifteen (5.51%) RLNs experienced altered nerve EMG profiles during surgery, and five (1.84%) experienced transient RLN injury in PHPT patients. Five (4.76%) RLNs were found to have altered EMG profiles during surgery, and one (0.95%) RLN had a transient RLN injury in SHPT patients. There was no permanent nerve injury (0.00%) in this series. There was no association between location, gland size, preoperative concordant localization, cure rate, duration of surgery, and IONM (P >0.05). Duration of surgery was associated with postoperative pharyngeal discomfort (P=0.026, P=0.024). Transient RLN injury was significantly lower in patients with PHPT who underwent IONM than in those who did not. Intraoperative neuromonitoring played an effective role in protecting the recurrent laryngeal nerve (P=0.035). Compared with parathyroidectomy, thyroidectomy had a higher rate of RLN injury (5.32%, P<0.001).

Conclusion

IONM for SHPT and PHPT offers rapid anatomical gland identification and RLN functional results for effective RLN protection and reduced RLN damage rates.

Prophylactic central neck dissection for cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma: is there any difference between western countries and China? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Recommendations for the performance of prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND) in patients with clinically node-uninvolved (cN0) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are not the same. This meta-analysis set out to compare the effectiveness of pCND with total thyroidectomy (TT) in different countries and regions, mainly between western countries and China.

Methods

The electronic databases PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched for studies published until August 2022. The incidence rate of cervical lymph node metastases (LNMs), locoregional recurrences (LRRs), and postoperative complications were pooled by a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses based on different countries and regions were performed.

Results

Eighteen studies involving 5,346 patients were analyzed. In the subgroup of western countries, patients undergoing pCND with TT had a significantly lower LRR rate [69/1,804, 3.82% vs. 139/2,541, 5.47%; odds ratio (OR) = 0.56; 95% CI 0.37-0.85] and a higher rate of temporary hypoparathyroidism (HPT) (316/1,279, 24.71% vs. 194/1,467, 13.22%; OR = 2.23; 95% CI 1.61-3.08) than that of the TT alone group, while no statistically significant difference was found in the rate of permanent HPT and temporary and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury. In the Chinese subgroup, the pCND with TT group had a significantly higher incidence rate of both temporary HPT (87/374, 23.26% vs. 36/324, 11.11%; OR = 2.24; 95% CI 1.32-3.81) and permanent HPT (21/374, 5.61% vs. 4/324, 1.23%; OR = 3.58; 95% CI = 1.24-10.37) than that of the TT alone group, while no significant difference was detected in the rate of LRR and temporary and permanent RLN injury.

Conclusion

Compared with the TT alone for cN0 PTC patients, pCND with TT had a significantly lower LRR rate while having a higher temporary HPT rate in Europe, America, and Australia; however, it showed no significant difference in decreasing LRR rate while having a significantly raised rate of temporary and permanent HPT in China. More population-based results are required to advocate precision medicine in PTC.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022358546.

Preoperative application of carbon nanoparticles in transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach for papillary thyroid cancer

Background

Carbon nanoparticles (CNs) have been widely used in the protection of the parathyroid gland and act as a tracer agent in central lymph node dissection. However, the right time for CN injection has not been well illustrated in the transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the preoperative injection of CNs in TOETVA for papillary thyroid cancer.

Methods

From October 2021 to October 2022, a total of 53 consecutive patients with PTC were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent unilateral thyroidectomy via the TOETVA. The patients were divided into the preoperative group (n = 28) and the intraoperative group (n = 25) according to CN injection time. In the preoperative group, 0.2 ml of CNs were injected into the thyroid lobules with malignant nodules 1 h before surgery. The numbers of total central lymph node (CLN) and metastatic central lymph node (CLNM), parathyroid autotransplantation, accidental removal of the parathyroid, and the parathyroid hormone level were recorded and analyzed.

Results

The leakage of CNs happened more frequently in the intraoperative group than in the preoperative group (P = 0.002). The mean number of retrieved CLN and CLNM was similar in the preoperative group and the intraoperative group. In parathyroid protection, more parathyroid was discovered in the preoperative group than in the intraoperative group (1.57 ± 0.54 vs. 1.47 ± 0.50, P = 0.002), but less parathyroid autotransplantation (P = 0.004) and accidental removal of the parathyroid (P = 0.036) were discovered in the preoperative group. However, the PTH level between the two groups was similar after the first day and the first month.

Conclusion

The preoperative injection of CNs is a safe and effective method to protect the parathyroid glands (PGs) in patients with PTC undergoing TOETVA. However, the value of preoperative injection of CNs in TOETVA for central lymph node dissection needs to be further studied.

Advantages and clinical significance of enhanced CT combined with BRAF V600E gene detection in the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains the focus of clinical research. Studies have shown that the BRAFV600E gene mutation is closely related to the development of PTC. In this study, we used the advantages and clinical significance of enhanced CT combined with BRAFV600E gene testing in the diagnosis of PTC.

METHODS

A total of 170 PTC patients who received treatment in our hospital between January 2020 and December 2020 were collected and divided into group A (enhanced CT combined with BRAFV600E gene detection) and group B (fine needle aspiration cytology, FNAC) according to different diagnostic methods. We recorded the general information of the patients and measured the levels of serum tumor markers including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin fragment 19 (CYFRA21-1), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125). After pathological diagnosis, the specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the two diagnostic methods were contrasted. The accuracy of the two methods and the pathological test in identifying benign lesions, malignant tumors, was also compared.

RESULTS

All patients' serum tumor markers CEA, CYFRA21-1, NSE and CA125 levels were above normal. The detection rate of specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of enhanced CT combined with BRAF V600E gene detection were superior to those of FNAC. And the accuracy of enhanced CT combined with BRAF V600E gene detection, which was confirmed by corresponding pathological detection results, was significantly increased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Enhanced CT combined with BRAF V600E gene detection can improve the diagnostic accuracy of PTC, and its clinical indicators and safety are superior to FNAC.

Chylous ascites with lymphatic leakage localization: technical aspects and clinical applications

BACKGROUND

Carbon nanoparticle suspension (CNS) was applied to locate the lymphatic leakage in chylous ascites (CA). However, the flow speed and distance of the CNS were particularly decreased in the following two cases (patient 5 and 6). This study aimed to investigate and improve the flow speed and distance of the CNS via a rat model.

METHODS

Seven patients with CA were accepted for surgery in the past two years. Clinical data were recorded. Rats were divided into two groups to confirm the hypothesis regarding whether accepting milk or orally administered food before surgery was the key factor in CA surgery with CNS. The animals were divided into 2 groups: experimental group of 5 rats receiving fat emulsion injection (2 g/kg) 30 min before the operation and control group of 5 rats receiving saline. We analyzed flow speed and distance of the CNS in two groups of rats. The hypothesis established was that CNS movements pattern differ depending on the degree of capillary lymph duct filling. Finally, the late case reconfirmed the hypothesis again.

RESULTS

In animal experiments, the CNS in the preoperative high-fat feeding group moved faster and over a longer distance than that in the control group (0.51 ± 0.09 cm vs. 0.19 ± 0.10 cm, respectively; p < 0.05). Based on this, the CNS was applied to the seventh patient, who had been given a diet with a slightly higher fat content 3 days before the operation, and marked improvement with a complete cure was recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

The capillary lymph duct was beginning to swell after dietary intake. The dilation of the lymph vessel could make it easier for the CNS to move and reach the leakage.

Ultrasound-Based Radiomic Nomogram for Predicting Lateral Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Accurate preoperative identification of lateral cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) is important for decision-making and clinical management of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The aim of this study was to develop an ultrasound (US)-based radiomic nomogram to preoperatively predict the lateral LNM in PTC patients.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, a total of 886 patients were enrolled and randomly divided into 2 groups. Radiomic features were extracted from the preoperative US images. A radiomic signature was constructed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm in the training set. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to develop the radiomic nomogram, which incorporating the radiomic signature and the selected clinical characteristics. The performance of the nomogram was assessed by its discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness in both the training and validation sets.

RESULTS

The radiomic signature was significantly associated with the lateral LNM in both cohorts (p< 0.001). The nomogram that consisted of radiomic signature, US-reported cervical lymph node (CLN) status, and CT-reported CLN status demonstrated good discrimination and calibration in the training and validation sets with an AUC of 0.946 and 0.914, respectively. The decision curve analysis indicated that the radiomic nomogram was worthy of clinical application.

CONCLUSION

The radiomic nomogram proposed here has good performance for noninvasively predicting the lateral LNM and might be used to facilitate clinical decision-making and potentially improve the survival outcome in selected patients.

Preoperative application of carbon nanoparticles in bilateral axillo-breast approach robotic thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer

BACKGROUND

Carbon nanoparticles (CNs) have been used intraoperatively in open thyroid surgery to facilitate central neck dissection and parathyroid protection. However, little attention was paid to the preoperative injection of CNs. Its safety and feasibility remain to be evaluated in bilateral axillo-breast approach robotic thyroidectomy (BABA RT).

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, 114 papillary thyroid cancer patients (PTC) undergoing BABA RT were enrolled from March 2020 to March 2021. In the CNs group (n=64), 0.15 mL of CNs was injected into the thyroid lobules with malignant nodules the day before surgery. Medical records were reviewed and analyzed, including complications of CNs usage, surgical outcomes, central lymph node (CLN) retrieval, and parathyroid glands (PGs)-related parameters.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found between the CNs and the control groups in terms of general characteristics and surgical parameters. Complications of CNs were rare in the CNs group. The mean number of retrieved CLN was significantly higher in the CNs group than in the control group (9.48±4.88 vs. 5.40±2.67, P<0.001), as was the mean number of metastatic CLN (2.00±2.56 vs. 1.04±1.70, P=0.018). There were no differences in PGs preserved in situ, PGs autotransplantation, and postoperative PTH levels on the first day and first month (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with PTC undergoing BABA RT, preoperative application of CNs is a safe and feasible method to facilitate central neck dissection. However, the value of the preoperative application of CNs in robotic thyroidectomy needs to be further studied because it has no significant benefit for parathyroid protection.

Evaluation of the clinical value of carbon nanoparticles in endoscopic thyroidectomy and prophylactic central neck dissection through total mammary areolas approach for thyroid cancer

Background

Carbon nanoparticles (CNs) are tracers used in thyroid surgery of patients with thyroid cancer (TC) to help remove lymph nodes and protect the parathyroid gland. The facilitative effect of carbon nanoparticles in endoscopic thyroidectomy and prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND) has not been reported.

Methods

The protective effect on parathyroid gland (PG) function and the numbers of identified parathyroid glands and central lymph nodes in endoscopic thyroid surgery through the total mammary areolas approach were compared between the CN and control groups.

Results

All endoscopic thyroidectomies were successfully completed. No difference was found in either group regarding the general characteristics or operative complications. The mean number of superior PGs and inferior PGs identified in situ or in the dissected central lymph tissues was not different between the groups. The mean number of lymph nodes removed by unilateral CND was greater in the CN group than in the control group. However, there was no difference in the number of harvested lymph nodes when excluding the LNs less than 5 mm, which exhibit an extremely low metastatic rate.

Conclusion

Carbon nanoparticles do not improve the protective effect on the parathyroid gland, especially the inferior glands, in endoscopic thyroid surgery through the total mammary areolas approach. There is no need to use CNs to facilitate the lymph node harvest in endoscopic prophylactic unilateral CND.

Lymph node metastasis pattern and significance of left gastric artery lymph node dissection in esophagectomy for esophageal cancers

Purpose

To investigate the lymph node metastasis pattern and significance of dissection of the left gastric artery lymph nodes in radical en bloc esophagectomy for esophageal squamous carcinomas based on the lymphatic drainage pathway revealed by carbon nanoparticle labeling.

Materials and methods

Patients who underwent en bloc esophagectomy endoscopically were retrospectively enrolled. Carbon nanoparticles were injected in the submucosa of upper thoracic esophagus to label the relevant draining lymph nodes. The clinical data, lymph nodes dissected, surgical technique, and complications were analyzed.

Results

En bloc esophagectomy was successful in all 179 patients. Metastases to the left gastric artery lymph nodes were positive in 42 patients (23.5%) but negative in 137 (76.5%). The left gastric lymph nodes were labeled, whereas no celiac lymph nodes were labeled by carbon nanoparticles. A total of 4652 lymph nodes were resected, with 26 lymph nodes per patient. Seventy-three patients had lymph node metastasis (73/179). Seventeen patients had metastasis to the recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes (9.5%). The metastasis rate of the lower thoracic esophageal cancer to the left gastric artery lymph nodes was 37.0%, significantly greater than that at the middle (15.4%) or upper (6.7%) thoracic segment. The lymph node metastasis rate was significantly (P < 0.05) increased with the length of the cancerous lesion, infiltration depth, and poor differentiation. Univariate analysis revealed that the metastasis rate to the left gastric artery lymph nodes was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with paraesophageal lymph node metastasis, para-cardial lymph metastasis, and TNM classification. Multivariate analysis indicated that cancer location (odds ratio 8.32, 95% confidence interval 2.12–32.24) was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with metastasis to the left gastric artery lymph nodes, with the cancer at the middle and lower thoracic segments significantly more than in the upper thoracic segment.

Conclusion

Certain patterns exist in lymph node metastasis of esophageal cancer, and in radical esophagectomy of esophageal cancers, dissection of the left gastric artery lymph nodes is necessary to prevent possible residual or metastasis of esophageal squamous carcinomas based on the lymphatic drainage pathway of esophageal carcinomas demonstrated by carbon nanoparticle labeling.

Role of carbon nanoparticle suspension in sentinel lymph node biopsy for early-stage cervical cancer: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical diagnostic validity of carbon nanoparticle suspension (CNS) in sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for assessing lymphatic spread of early-stage cervical cancer.

DESIGN

A prospective study.

SETTING AND POPULATION

356 cases.

METHODS

We enrolled 356 stage Ia2-IIa2 cervical cancer patients to undergo SLNB using CNS, followed by systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy. All lymph node specimens were assessed using conventional histopathologic ± pathologic ultrastaging analyses.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Sentinel lymph node detection rate (DR), clinical diagnostic validity and various related factors were analysed.

RESULTS

CNS identified 1456 SLNs in 325 patients. The overall SLN DR was 91.29%. A significantly higher DR was found for patients with tumours <20 mm (97.75% versus 71.91%; P < 0.001). Two patients had false-negative results. SLNB with CNS had sensitivity of 96.65%, false-negative rate (FNR) of 4.35% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.29%. Importantly, sensitivity (100%), NPV (100%) and FNR (0%) were improved when testing the subgroup of patients with tumours <20 mm (267 cases). There were no observed differences in DR based on pathological type or grade, stage, depth of stromal invasion, surgical approach, menopausal status or prior treatment with chemotherapy (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Sentinel lymph node biopsy with CNS results in favourable DR, sensitivity and NPV for women with early-stage cervical cancer with small tumour sizes. SLNB with CNS is safe, feasible and relatively effective for guiding precise surgical treatment of early-stage cervical cancer.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Sentinel lymph node biopsy with carbon nanoparticle suspension is safe and feasible for early-stage cervical cancer.

How Pre-operative Sentinel Lymph Node Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Helps Intra-operative Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer: Initial Experience

We aimed to evaluate the value of sentinel lymph node contrast-enhanced ultrasound (SLN-CEUS) and surface tracing for the biopsy of intra-operative sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). Between June 2015 and December 2017, a total of 453 patients with early invasive breast cancer were recruited. Patients received an intradermal injection of microbubble contrast agent around the areola on the day before surgery. The locations and sizes of lymphatic channels (LCs) and SLNs were marked on the body surface using gentian violet. Then, injection of double blue dye was performed half an hour before surgery. We compared the pathway of LCs and the location of SLNs obtained from SLN-CEUS and blue dye during surgery. Among the 453 patients, the mean numbers of LCs and SLNs detected by SLN-CEUS were 1.42 and 1.72, respectively, and the coincidence rate was 98.2% compared with blue dye during surgery. The median distance from the SLN to skin measured by pre-operative CEUS and blue dye was 1.95 ± 0.69 and 2.03 ± 0.87 cm (p = 0.35). There were three SLN enhancement in our research, including homogeneous enhancement, inhomogeneous enhancement and no enhancement, with the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of SLN-CEUS for the diagnosis of SLNs being 96.82%, 91.91%, 87.54% and 98.01%, respectively. SLN-CEUS with skin marking can identify the pathway of LCs and the location of the SLN before surgery, measure the distance from the SLN to skin and determine if the SLN is metastatic. SLN-CEUS can be used as an effective complement to the blue dye method.

Application of Carbon Nanoparticles in Endoscopic Thyroidectomy via Bilateral Areola Approach: Total Thyroidectomy Plus Central Lymph Node Dissection

Background: The aim of this report was dual: (a) to describe the step-by-step standardized intraoperative percutaneous injection of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) procedure for CNP-stained central compartment lymph nodes (CLNs) and passive display of parathyroid gland by CNP-stained thyroid in endoscopic thyroidectomy via bilateral areola approach (ETBAA) and (b) evaluation and outcomes of percutaneous injection of CNPs in total thyroidectomy plus CLN dissection through ETBAA. Materials and Methods: Video describes the technique of intraoperative percutaneous injection of CNPs for central compartment LNs identification, dissection, and parathyroid glands preservation in ETBAA for papillary thyroid cancer. Results: Supplementary video shows that after intrathyroid injection of CNPs, black carbon can be seen rapidly along the lymphatic vessels to the surrounding LNs. Parathyroid gland can be passive display when the thyroid is black and the parathyroid gland is normal in color. Intraoperative neuromonitoring (Medtronic^® NIM-Response 3.0) was applied to identify recurrent laryngeal nerve and external branch of superior laryngeal nerve. No patient had any side effects of CNPs from 152 patients followed up for an average of 19.6 months (6-34 months). LNs were easily found under ETBAA. The accuracy of black-dyed LN in thyroid cancers was 95.9% (1016/1059). The number of parathyroid glands passive display was 69.9% (267/382). Conclusions: It is feasible to use CNPs to show CLNs in thyroid cancer during ETBAA. CNP suspension is safe for thyroidal injection.

The function of carbon nanoparticles to improve lymph node dissection and identification of parathyroid glands during thyroid reoperation for carcinoma

To evaluate the function of carbon nanoparticles during the thyroid reoperation for carcinoma, we conducted this study by retrospectively analyzing the data of patients who underwent at least completion thyroidectomy with bilateral central lymph nodes dissection for thyroid carcinoma from January 2009 to June 2016. The clinicopathologic characteristics and surgical details were compared between the patient who accepted intraoperative carbon nanoparticles injection and those who accepted nothing injection during the surgery. The main monitoring indicators were the number of dissected lymph nodes and metastatic lymph nodes in central zone, the number of identified parathyroid glands and autoplastic parathyroid glands and unintentionally resected parathyroid glands. A total of 69 patients were enrolled into the carbon nanoparticles group and 128 patients were enrolled into the control group.The average number of lymph nodes harvested in the central zone was higher in the carbon nanoparticles group than that in the control group (11.2 ± 5.7 vs 7.7 ± 4.0, P < .001), so was the average number of metastatic lymph nodes (4.5 ± 4.5 vs 2.7 ± 2.9, P = .004). The average number of identified parathyroid gland was greater in the carbon nanoparticles group than that in the control group (2.4 ± 1.2 vs 1.6 ± 1.1, P < .001). The average number of autoplastic parathyroid gland was comparable between the 2 groups (0.6 ± 0.6 vs 0.4 ± 0.7, P = .052). But the average number of unintentionally resected parathyroid gland was less in the carbon nanoparticles group than that in the control group (0.1 ± 0.2 vs 0.2 ± 0.4, P = .007). Carbon nanoparticles can improve lymph nodes dissection and identification of parathyroid gland during thyroid reoperation for carcinoma.

Application of a carbon nanoparticle suspension for sentinel lymph node mapping in patients with early breast cancer: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

To stage axillary lymph nodes in women with early-stage breast cancer, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), rather than axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), has been employed. Moreover, different tracer methods have various advantages and disadvantages. In recent years, carbon nanoparticle suspensions (CNSs) have been used as lymph node tracers during surgeries for thyroid cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer. The study retrospectively analyzed the feasibility and accuracy of CNS for sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping in patients with early breast cancer.

METHODS

This single-center, retrospective study included breast cancer patients who underwent SLNB from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017, in the Department of Breast Cancer, Guangdong General Hospital. All patients received standard SLNB surgery using a CNS tracer.

RESULTS

A total of 332 cases were included in this study. The SLN identification rate was 99.1% (329/332), and the mean number of SLNs was 2.6 (range, 1-6). SLN metastasis was found in 62 (18.8%) cases, of which 90.3% were found to be macrometastases. The sensitivity of SLNB was 95.9% (47/49), with a specificity of 100% (42/42), a positive predictive value of 100% (47/47), a negative predictive value of 95.5% (42/44), and a false-negative rate of 4.1% (2/49).

CONCLUSION

The identification and predictive values of a CNS tracer for SLNB were satisfactory.