Colorectal cancer is considered third common cause of cancer-related mortality across the world, majorly due to its poor prognosis and several complications. Metastasis of lymph nodes serves asan important index to assess the recurrence and survival rate of patients with rectal cancer. In addition, it also helps in determining the treatment strategy of patients with rectal cancer. With regard to this, nano carbon tracer can guide surgeons to accurately clear regional lymph nodes, improve the number of lymph nodes detected, and then improve the accuracy of pathological staging of rectal cancer.

This method plays a key role in the removal of lymph nodes of middle and low rectal cancer, and provides an important basis for the development of post-operative adjuvant treatment plan. A study evaluated the application value of this method in improving the detection rate of lymph nodes in laparoscopic colorectal cancer. The results showed that the total number of lymphatic gland, the number of small lymphatic gland, the rate of lymph node metastasis, the number of black stained lymphatic gland and the number of lymphatic gland confirmed by pathology in the two groups were relatively better than those in the traditional surgical treatment, which had better application value in the radical operation of colorectal cancer.

Source: J NanosciNanotechnol. 2021 Feb 1;21(2):886-894.