Patients’ characteristics
tumour
TUMOUR
A total of 569 patients with PTC from seven hospitals across China were enrolled. According to the different resection ranges of the primary lesion, they were assigned to two subgroups: the unilateral lobectomy group (UL, 283 patients) and total thyroidectomy group (TT, 286 patients), who were randomly assigned to the carbon nanoparticles group (A group) or control group (B group), respectively (CONSORT diagram of patients randomized to used carbon nanoparticles group (A group) or control group (B group). According to the different resection ranges of the primary lesion, they were assigned to two subgroups: the unilateral lobectomy group (UL) and total thyroidectomy group (TT).Carbon nanoparticles were injected into the thyroid around the tumour; the white arrow shows the parathyroid gland(negative staining); the green arrows show the lymph nodes coloured black; the black arrows show the lymph ducts coloured black.Comparison of baseline characteristics between carbon nanoparticles group and control group in UL and TT subgroup.BMI, Body mass index; A, carbon nanoparticles group; B, Control group.