Abstract
To explore better methods for tracing central lymph nodes in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma by comparing the differences in the numbers and staining rates of central lymph nodes as well as the degree of nanocarbon extravasation between the preoperative ultrasound-guided injection of nanocarbon particles and the intraoperative injection of nanocarbon particles. A total of 302 patients were randomly divided into a preoperative ultrasound-guided injection group and an intraoperative injection group. The number and degree of staining of the lymph nodes in each subgroup of central lymph nodes, including linea alba cervical lymph nodes, Delphian lymph nodes, and pretracheal and paratracheal lymph nodes, were recorded and analyzed. The extent of dye extravasation was reduced when nanocarbon was injected preoperatively. Significantly more linea alba cervical lymph nodes and pretracheal and paratracheal lymph nodes were detected in the preoperative injection group. Preoperative injection of nanocarbon can accelerate the staining and detection of central lymph nodes in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, clinically positive lymph nodes (cN1) and tumors with diameters > 1 cm. Preoperative ultrasound-guided injection of nanocarbon can reduce the likelihood of dye spillage and improve the staining rate as well as the detection rate of central lymph nodes.