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Abdominal Lymph Node Anatomy

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Atlas of Lymph Node Anatomy

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Abstract

Lymph node metastases are frequently seen in most primary abdominal malignant tumors. The tumor cells enter lymphatic vessels and travel to the lymph nodes along lymphatic drainage pathways. The lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes generally accompany the blood vessels supplying or draining the organs. They are all located in the subperitoneal space within the ligaments, mesentery, mesocolon, and extra peritoneum. Metastasis to the lymph nodes generally follows the nodal station in a stepwise direction—that is, from the primary tumor to the nodal station that is closest to the primary tumor and then progresses farther away but within the lymphatic drainage pathways. Metastasis to a nodal station that is farther from the primary tumor without involving the nodal station close to the primary tumor (“skip” metastasis) is rare. The key to understanding the pathways of lymphatic drainage of each individual organ is to understand the ligamentous, mesenteric, and peritoneal attachments and the vascular supply of that organ (Meyers et al. Meyers’ dynamic radiology of the abdomen: normal and pathologic anatomy, 2011).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Amreen Shakur, Aileen O’Shea & Mukesh G. Harisinghani

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  1. Amreen Shakur
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  2. Aileen O’Shea
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  3. Mukesh G. Harisinghani
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Correspondence to Mukesh G. Harisinghani .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Professor of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Mukesh G. Harisinghani

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Shakur, A., O’Shea, A., Harisinghani, M.G. (2021). Abdominal Lymph Node Anatomy. In: Harisinghani, M.G. (eds) Atlas of Lymph Node Anatomy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80899-0_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80899-0_3

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