Anatomical analysis of the mediastinal lymph nodes of normal Brazilian subjects according to the classification of the Japanese Society for Diseases of the Esophagus.
OBJECTIVE
Extended mediastinal lymphadenectomy is gaining popularity in the treatment of esophageal cancer, but lymph node nomenclature and classification is still not standardized. The normal mediastinal lymph node distribution according to the classification of the Japanese Society for Esophageal Diseases has never been studied.


METHODS
We dissected 20 fresh adult cadavers to examine the mediastinal lymph nodes.


RESULTS
We found an unpredictable and inconstant distribution.


CONCLUSIONS
Previous papers have evaluated the number and distribution of normal mediastinal lymph nodes, clinically, radiologically, and anatomically, but the results are conflicting and inconsistent.
Herbella
Fernando Augusto Mardiros
FA
Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, UNIFESP, Rua Napoleão de Barros, 715 2 degrees andar, 04024-002 São Paulo, Brazil.
Del Grande
Jose Carlos
JC
Colleoni
Ramiro
R
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*