title: [Experimental study of cervical lymph node in thyroid by using radioactive nano tracer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Using radioactive nano tracer with different sizes (average diameter were 50, 80 and 100 nm) and dosages (0.01 and 0.02 ml) in the thyroids of rabbits, to study the drainage of thyroid to cervical lymph nodes (LNs) in rabbits and to provide experimental evidence for the choice of ideal sizes and dosages of radioactive Nano tracer for the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in thyroid cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty adult rabbits were randomly divided into six groups (50 nm - 0.01 ml, 50 nm - 0.02 ml, 80 nm - 0.01 ml, 80 nm - 0.02 ml, 100 nm - 0.01 ml, 100 nm - 0.02 ml of (99m)Tc-Sb(2)S(3)) with five rabbits in each group. A total of 60 sides of thyroids were included. The mean number of LNs with radioactivity, the initial, the strangest and the lasting time of radioactivity in LNs in each group were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One to three LNs were identified in one side neck of rabbits, totally 86 LNs. Most of LNs with radioactivity existed in level VI, counting for 75.6% (65/86). (99m)Tc-Sb(2)S(3) with 50 nm particles was significantly better than that with 80 nm or 100 nm particles with regarding the initial and the strangest radioactive time of (99m)Tc-Sb(2)S(3) in LNs (P < 0.05). There were no significant difference in the mean number of LNs with radioactivity, the initial, the strangest and the lasting time of radioactivity between the dosages of 0.01 ml and 0.02 ml of (99m)Tc-Sb(2)S(3) with same size of particles (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (99m)Tc-Sb(2)S(3) with 50 nm particles, in the dosage of 0.01 ml or 0.02 ml, could be good choice for SLNB of thyroid cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Medical School of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200001, China.
authors.forename: Yong-lan
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jia-dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D049329:Nanostructures; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011817:Rabbits; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D011849:Radioactive Tracers