Metastatic cardiophrenic lymph node resection following full-thickness resection of right diaphragm for advanced ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE

Ovarian carcinomas sometimes metastasize to the cardiophrenic lymph node. We present a surgical technique for metastatic cardiophrenic lymph node resection following full-thickness resection of the right diaphragm.

METHODS

A 51-year-old woman presented with ovarian carcinoma and cardiophrenic lymph node metastasis with peritoneal dissemination. The surgical procedure for metastatic cardiophrenic lymph node resection following full-thickness resection of the right diaphragm was as follows. (1) Stripping of the right diaphragm peritoneum was started from the ventral side toward the dorsal side. At the area where stripping was ceased due to tendon or muscle invasion, the thoracic cavity was opened. Full-thickness resection of the diaphragm was proceeded in the left-right direction. (2) The bare area was exposed. Full-thickness resection of the diaphragm was continued along the bare area. (3) After the right diaphragm resection was completed, the remaining right diaphragm was cut toward the cranial side. The metastatic cardiophrenic lymph node was grasped and pulled by forceps, and subsequently resected using a vessel-sealing device. (4) After thoracic chest tube placement, the diaphragmatic defect was closed by continuous non-absorbable sutures.

RESULTS

We successfully achieved metastatic cardiophrenic lymph node resection following full-thickness resection of the right diaphragm without intra- or postoperative complications.

CONCLUSION

Metastatic cardiophrenic lymph node resection is a simple procedure for gynecologic surgeons who are able to perform full-thickness resection of the diaphragm.