Patterns of mediastinal metastases in bronchogenic carcinoma

• Published in: Chest Vol. 90; no. 2; p. 229
• Main Authors: Libshitz, H I, McKenna, Jr, R J, Mountain, C F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.1986
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Adenocarcinoma - secondary; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic - pathology; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic - secondary; Carcinoma, Small Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Small Cell - secondary; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - secondary; Female; Humans; Lung - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Mediastinal Neoplasms - pathology; Mediastinal Neoplasms - secondary; Prognosis
• ISSN: 0012-3692
• DOI: 10.1378/chest.90.2.229

The location and frequency of metastases to the lymph nodes were documented in a review of 200 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma who underwent pulmonary resection and total lymph node resection. No nodal metastases were found in 120 patients (60 percent). Metastases were present in only lobar or hilar nodes (or both) in 32 patients (16 percent), and 34 (17 percent) had metastases in mediastinal nodes as well as in lobar or hilar nodes. Only mediastinal nodal metastases were found in 14 patients (7 percent). Previously described lymphatic pathways can explain the presence of metastases in mediastinal nodes alone. Unexplained findings were the higher prevalence of mediastinal nodal metastases in adenocarcinoma vs squamous cell carcinoma and a much higher frequency of mediastinal metastases without lobar or hilar involvement (or both) in patients with adenocarcinoma compared to those with squamous cell carcinoma.