The value of synthetic MRI for quantitative analysis in the diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis in thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative effective assessment of cervical lymph node metastasis in thyroid cancer plays an important role in formulating the surgical plan. PURPOSE: To investigate the significance of synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for quantitatively analyzing cervical lymph node metastasis in thyroid cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 patients with thyroid cancer, consisting of 19 thyroid cancer nodules, 45 metastatic lymph nodes, and 47 non-metastatic lymph nodes. Regions of interest (ROIs) for each type of nodule were manually delineated using a workstation. Quantitative parameters, such as T1, T2, and proton density (PD) values, were automatically extracted from synthetic MRI scans. Statistical tests and regression analysis were performed to assess differences and correlations among the quantitative parameters. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the quantitative parameter values between the primary tumor and metastatic lymph node tissues (P > 0.05). However, significant differences were observed in the quantitative parameters between the primary tumor and non-metastatic lymph node tissues and between the metastatic and non-metastatic lymph node tissues (P < 0.05). The diagnostic accuracy for cervical lymph node metastasis in thyroid cancer was 94.4% for the T1 and T2 combined index, 91.9% for T2, 86.8% for T1, and 71.7% for PD values. CONCLUSION: The application of quantitative parameters from synthetic MRI can assist clinicians in accurately planning surgical interventions for thyroid cancer patients before surgery.

Effect of lidocaine on the safety of postoperative skin reconstruction after malignant melanoma resection.

Malignant melanoma is a type of skin cancer with high morbidity and mortality. Therapeutic strategies should be individualized in order to increase the survival rate. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of lidocaine on skin healing and immune function after operation of patients with melanoma. Sixty patients with melanoma were selected from those treated in Bishan Hospital between August 2014 and August 2016. The patients were randomly divided into lidocaine group and control group. Lidocaine group was locally treated with an intradermic injection of 2% lidocaine solution in dose of 1.5 mg/kg and the control group received the same quantity of saline solution. In the lidocaine group, the rates of skin temperature, drug reaction, healing and infection were higher than the corresponding rates in the C group. The local application of lidocaine can promote wound healing to a certain extent, reduce pain, and promote postoperative skin reconstruction.