Anatomy of hepatic lymphatics and its implications in hepatic malignancies.
Hepatic malignancy with regional lymph node involvement is generally associated with poor prognosis. Lymphatic drainage from the liver to extrahepatic lymph nodes follows a complex and unpredictable pathway. To add to the complexity of management of regional lymph nodes in hepatic malignancies, not all liver cancers have the same propensity to metastasize through lymphatics. Lymphadenectomy has had mixed results in terms of improving patient survival. Other therapies especially anti-lymphogenic agents might play a role in the near future.
Department of Surgery, Northern Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. b.gillespie@griffith.edu.au.
Tuck Leong
TL
Yong
Department of Surgery, Northern Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Nezor
N
Houli
Department of Surgery, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Chris
C
Christophi
D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
liver neoplasms; lymphatic system