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Surgical anatomy of the lingual lymph nodes: systematic literature analysis and proposition for topographic classification

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Abstract

Purpose

Metastatic involvement of the lingual lymph nodes (LLNs) in oral cavity squamous cell cancer (SCC) has recently been proven to significantly reduce locoregional control and survival. Despite recent refinements in the detection of these lesions, the understanding of the LLN topographic anatomy among clinicians is limited. A proposition of a topographic division on LLN based on a comprehensive literature search and synthesis may be helpful in this condition.

Methods

A literature search and election based on contemporary PRISMA guidelines was performed for sources on LLN anatomy with special attention on their subdivision.

Results

Four topographic LLN subgroups were defined: median—between genioglossal and geniohyoid muscles; intermediate parahyoid—medial to the hyoglossal muscle, at the greater cornu of the hyoid bone; lateral sublingual (paraglandular) LLNs—at the sublingual salivary gland; lateral submandibular (paraglandular) LLNs –lateral to the hyoglossal muscle, at the deep surface of the submandibular salivary gland.

Conclusion

The development and implementation of a unified anatomical topographic classification of LLN subgroups may be among the important conditions for improving the detection and treatment of LLN lesions.

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Data availability

The data used to support the conclusions of this study are included within the article.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Alexander Gaprindashvili for the artwork development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Russian Scientific Center of Roentgenoradiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 86 Profsoyuznaya Street, Moscow, 117997, Russia

    Shalva R. Gvetadze, Vladimir A. Solodkiy, Nikolay V. Nudnov & Vladimir D. Chkhikvadze

  2. Department of Oncology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 8, building 2 Trubetskaya Street, Moscow, 119991, Russia

    Ali M. Mudunov

  3. Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, 304 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Ekaterina A. Roshchina

  4. NN Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, 24 Kashirskoe Shosse, Moscow, 115478, Russia

    Konstantin D. Ilkaev & Vasiliy I. Sokorutov

  5. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, National Clinical Center for Oral Disease, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, People’s Republic of China

    Mingming Lv, Xin Yang & Jian Sun

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  1. Shalva R. Gvetadze
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  2. Ali M. Mudunov
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Contributions

SRG: development of the research concept, search, translation and analysis of literature on the topic of the article, article writing, scientific editing of the article; AMM, JS: development of the research concept, scientific editing of the article;EAR: development of the research concept, review and translation of literature on the topic of the article; VAS, NVN, VDC: scientific editing of the article; KDI, MLV, XY, VIS: language and scientific editing of the article.

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Correspondence to Jian Sun.

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Gvetadze, S.R., Mudunov, A.M., Roshchina, E.A. et al. Surgical anatomy of the lingual lymph nodes: systematic literature analysis and proposition for topographic classification. Surg Radiol Anat 45, 227–239 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-023-03078-y

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