Objective：To compare the efficacy of carbon nanoparticles suspension and methylene blue for the detection of axillary sentinel lymph nodes in rabbits with breast cancer, to provide a method for the clinical application of treatment of breast cancer.
Methods：The model of breast cancer was established in 40 rabbits by intramammary injection of VX2 tumor tissue suspension 1ml. The successful model was divided into two groups. Carbon nanoparticles suspension and methylene blue were used in staining sentinel lymph node. The staining time, stain fading time of SLN, number of stained SLN, total number of the stained lymph node and the staining effect were observed.
Results：The staining time of SLN and number of stained SLN had no significant difference between the 2 groups, total number of the stained lymph nodes was 3.25±0.56 and 2.3±0.21 respectively in carbon nanoparticles suspension group and methylene blue group(t=6.99, P＜ 0.05), while the stain fadeing time was more than 180 min in carbon nanoparticles suspension group and 105.75 min(average) in methylene blue group. The staining effect in carbon nanoparticles suspension group was much better than that in the methylene blue group.
Conclusions：This study confirms that the rabbit metastatic model of breast cancer set up by intramammary injection of VX2 tumor tissue suspension is an ideal model. Carbon nanoparticles suspension is superior to methylene blue for sentinel lymph node staining, and is a more ideal lymphatic tracer for breast cancer cancer surgery.