[Grouping of thoracic lymph nodes on CT scan according to American Thoracic Society classification].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the usefulness of the classification developed by the American Thracic Society (ATS) in the grouping of thoracic lymph nodes on CT scan.

METHODS

Ten patients suffered from lymphoma (5 cases), sarcoidosis (2 cases) and metastatic lymphadenopathy (3 cases) were examinated with CT. The intrathoracic lymph nodes were grouped according to the ATS nodal classification.

RESULTS

Six areas were divided on the CT scans: (1) between the upper margin of the sixth cervical vertebra and the pulmonary apex, including nodes in group 1R/L; (2) between the pulmonary apex and the upper margin of the aortic arch, including nodes in group 2R/L and 6; (3) between the upper margin of aortic arch and the carina, including nodes in group 4R/L, 5, 6 and 10R; (4) within 3 cm below carina, including nodes in group 7 and 10R/L; (5) between 3 cm from subcarina and the top of diaphragm, including nodes in group 8R/L and 14R/L; (6) intrapulmonary area, distal to the upper lobe bronchi, including nodes in group 11R/L.

CONCLUSION

The division of lymph nodes into six areas on CT scan makes the ATS lymph node classification more easily applicable.