A total of 86 patients with
thyroid carcinoma undergoing primarily total
thyroidectomy plus bilateral central
neck dissection were randomly divided into trial and control groups.
Carbon nanoparticles were injected into thyroid gland of trial group. Total
lymph node, metastasis lymph node, black stained lymph node and black stained
metastasis lymph node of trial group were counted in central compartment dissection specimens. And total lymph node and
metastasis lymph node of control group were counted in central compartment dissection specimens. Parathyroid glands in central
neck dissection specimens were counted in two groups. For two groups, serum total
calcium and
parathyroid hormone were measured pre-operation and 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months post-operation.
RESULTS: In trial group, the average counts of (10.19 ± 4.27) lymph nodes and (8.44 ± 4.31) black stained lymph nodes were more than those in control group at (6.26 ± 2.98) lymph nodes (all P < 0.01). Parathyroid gland was found in trial group (n = 7) and control group (n = 11). And the difference had no statistical significance (χ(2) = 1.124, P = 0.289). The preoperative serum levels of
calcium and
parathyroid hormone decreased within 6 months postoperatively in both groups (all P < 0.01). Without extracapsular invasion, serum levels of
calcium and
parathyroid hormone were higher in trial group than those in control group at 5 days, 1 month and 3 months post-operation (all P < 0.05). In an event of
lymph node metastasis, serum levels of
calcium (t = 3.446, P = 0.001) and
parathyroid hormone (t = 2.441, P = 0.017) in trial group were higher than those in control group at 1 month post-operation. When there was extracapsular invasion or no
lymph node metastasis, the serum levels of
calcium and
parathyroid hormone had no inter-group statistical differences within 6 months post-operation (all P > 0.05). When
tumor size was less than or equal to 4 cm, the level of
parathyroid hormone was higher in trial group than that in control group at 1 month post-operation (t = 2.703, P = 0.009). But no inter-group statistical differences existed within 6 months post-operation (all P > 0.05) when
tumor size surpassed 4 cm. Regardless of
tumor size, the serum levels of
calcium in trial group were higher than those in control group at 1 month post-operation (all P < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: