[Sentinel lymph node detection of rabbit tongue by indirect CT lymphography combined with nanocarbon tracer].
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).


METHODS
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 = 1:1) 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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
It is more accurate for sentinel lymph node detection by indirect CT lymphography combined with nanocarbon tracer staining.
Yue
Y
Yang
Fang
F
Shi
Xiaoping
X
Chen
Wei
W
Huang
Haitao
H
Wu
D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma; D003287:Contrast Media; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007267:Injections; D008198:Lymph Nodes; D008220:Lymphography; D009333:Neck; D011817:Rabbits; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
D003287:Contrast Media