Regional Lymph Nodes

Intrathoracic (showing AJCC Node category)

Pulmonary

  • 12 N1 Peribronchial
  • 11 N1 Intrapulmonic (interlobar)
  • 10 N1 Hilar
  • 13 N1 Segmental

Superior mediastinal

  • 1 N2-3 Superior mediastinal
  • 3 N2-3 Pretracheal, retrotracheal
  • 2 N2-3 Paratracheal
  • 4 N2-3 Lower paratracheal
  • 4 N2-3 Azygos

Aortic

  • 5 N2-3 Subaortic (aortic window)
  • 6 N2-3 Para-aortic (ascending aorta or phrenic)

Inferior mediastinal

  • 7 N2 Carinal
  • 7 N2 Subcarinal
  • 8 N2-3 Paraesophageal
  • 9 N2-3 Pulmonary ligament

Extrathoracic

  • N3 Scalene
    Along scalenus muscles in the base of the neck. The individual scalene muscles are the scalenus anterior, posterior, medius, and minimus.

Lymph Nodes of Lungs & Mediastinum and a Sagittal View of Heart

Illustration of the lymph nodes of the lungs.

Source: Manual for Staging of Cancer, 3rd edition, American Joint Committee on Cancer. J B Lippincott Co., 1988.