The Lymphatic Spread of Lung Cancer: An Investigation of the Anatomy of the Lymphatic Drainage of the Lungs and Preoperative Mediastinal Staging.

The knowledge of lymphatic spread of lung cancer permitted the study of anatomy of lymphatic drainage of the lungs. The history of anatomy of lymphatic drainage of the lungs began in the 15th century. In the human, pulmonary lymph flows to the lymph nodes around the lobar bronchi and thence to extrapulmonary lymph nodes located around the main bronchi and trachea and its bifurcation (tracheobronchial lymph nodes). These send their efferents to a right and left mediastinal lymph trunks, which may join the thoracic duct, but usually drain opening directly into the brachiocephalic vein of their own side.