Sentinel lymph node detection of rabbit tongue by indirect CT lymphography combined with nanocarbon tracer / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the value of indirect CT lymphography (CT-LG) combined with nanocarbon tracer suspension staining in the sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection of rabbit tongue (cancer).@*METHOD@#Eight rabbits were divided into two groups, i. e. normal control group (6 rabbits) and VX2 tongue carcinoma group (2 rabbits). Pre-contrast CT images were taken for all rabbits. The mixture of iohexol and nanocarbon tracer suspension (iohexol 0.25 ml and nanocarbon tracer 0.25 ml, respectively, volume ratio = 11) was used as contrast agent of indirect CT-LG. Indirect CT-LG was performed as the contrast agent was injection into right ventrolateral submucosa of the tongues. CT images were acquired at 1, 5, 10 and 15 min after injection.@*RESULT@#There were no cervical lymph nodes clearly identified in any group on the pre-contrast CT images. After the contrast agent injection, indirect CT-LG showed an ipsilateral SLN with rapid enhancement which was the only enhanced SLN, located lateral to the larynx-trachea region in all rabbits of VX2 control group and carcinoma group. The CT attenuation values of SLN were (58.80 ± 5.45) HU, (134.80 ± 28.92) HU, (91.00 ± 13.08) HU and (63.80 ± 4.32) HU at 1, 5, 10 and 15 minutes after indirect CT-LG. After the cervical anatomy guided by CT scan, all of the right deep SLN showed a distinct enrichment of black dye highly consistent with the locations on the indirect CT-LG images.@*CONCLUSION@#It is more accurate for sentinel lymph node detection by indirect CT lymphography combined with nanocarbon tracer staining.