Lymph Node Map Definitions
| Nodal station anatomic landmarks | Description |
|---|---|
| N2 nodes—all N2 nodes lie within mediastinal pleural envelope | |
| Highest mediastinal nodes | Nodes lying above horizontal line at upper rim of bracheocephalic (left innominate) vein, where it ascends to left, crossing in front of trachea at its midline |
| Upper paratracheal nodes | Nodes lying above horizontal line drawn tangential to upper margin of aortic arch and below inferior boundary of highest mediastinal nodes |
| Prevascular and retrotracheal nodes | Prevascular and retrotracheal nodes may be designated 3A and 3P; midline nodes are considered to be ipsilateral |
| Lower paratracheal nodes | Lower paratracheal nodes on right lie to right of midline of trachea between horizontal line drawn tangential to upper margin of aortic arch and line extending across right main bronchus at upper margin of upper-lobe bronchus and are contained within mediastinal pleural envelope; lower paratracheal nodes on left lie to left of midline of trachea between horizontal line drawn tangential to upper margin of aortic arch and line extending across left main bronchus at level of upper margin of left upper-lobe bronchus, medial to ligamentum arteriosum, and are contained within mediastinal pleural envelope |
| Subaortic (aortopulmonary window) | Subaortic nodes are lateral to ligamentum arteriosum, aorta, or left pulmonary artery and proximal to first branch of left pulmonary artery and lie within mediastinal pleural envelope |
| Paraaortic nodes (ascending aorta or phrenic) | Nodes lying anterior and lateral to ascending aorta and aortic arch or innominate artery, beneath line tangential to upper margin of aortic arch |
| Subcarinal nodes | Nodes lying caudad to carina of trachea but not associated with lower-lobe bronchi or arteries within lung |
| Paraesophageal nodes (below carina) | Nodes lying adjacent to wall of esophagus and to right or left of midline, excluding subcarinal nodes |
| Pulmonary ligament nodes | Nodes lying within pulmonary ligament, including those in posterior wall and lower part of inferior pulmonary vein |
| N1 nodes—all N1 nodes lie distal to mediastinal pleural reflection and within visceral pleura | |
| Hilar nodes | Proximal lobar nodes, distal to mediastinal pleural reflection, and nodes adjacent to bronchus intermedius on right; radiographically, hilar shadow may be created by enlargement of both hilar and interlobar nodes |
| Interlobar nodes | Nodes lying between lobar bronchi |
| Lobar nodes | Nodes adjacent to distal lobar bronchi |
| Segmental nodes | Nodes adjacent to segmental bronchi |
| Subsegmental nodes | Nodes around subsegmental bronchi |
Reprinted with permission of (64).