[Application of lymph node labeling with carbon nanoparticles in laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery]

To investigate the value of lymph node labeled with carbon nanoparticles in laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection.

The clinical data of 53 patients received laparoscopic radical colorectal surgeries in our department from March 2014 to July 2014 was retrospectively analyzed.Among these patients, carbon nanoparticles were injected into the periphery of the tumor under colonoscopy 1-3 days before the operation (the nanoparticle group) in 26 patients, while 27 patients received operation directly (the control group).The number of cleared lymph nodes, tiny lymph nodes (<5 mm), dyed lymph nodes, and lymph node metastatic rate were compared between the two groups.

The two groups had no statistical difference in basic characteristics; 434 and 340 lymph nodes were dissected in the nanoparticle group and control group respectively.The average number of cleared lymph nodes(16.7 ± 3.2) in the nanoparticle group was significantly higher than that of the control group(12.6 ± 2.3) (P<0.001). Besides, both the average number and ratio of cleared tiny lymph nodes in the nanoparticle group were significant higher than those of the control group (P<0.001). Moreover, the rate of less than 12 detected lymph nodes in the nanoparticle group was markedly lower than that of the control group (0 vs 33.3%, P=0.001).There was no statistical difference in lymph node metastatic rate between the two groups (P=0.693).

Application of lymph node labeled with carbon nanoparticles in laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery could instruct lymph nodes dissection, improve lymph node detection rate, reduce tumor residual rate, improve the accuracy of pathological staging, and guide the postoperative adjuvant therapy.