[Anatomy and topography of the cardial lymph nodes of the adult human stomach].

Cardial lymph nodes in the human stomach occur in 97% of cases. Their number varies from 1 to 11 (in 54% of cases--1-4). They are situated in front (in 75% of cases--from 1 to 10 nodes), to the left (in 73% of cases--from 1 to 7) and at the back (in 37% of cases--from 1 to 3) of the cardia. The most often studied lymph nodes localize simultaneously in front and to the left from the cardial opening of the stomach (in 32% of cases), or in front, to the left and to the back of it (in 20%). Size of the human cardia lymph nodes varies within the limits of 0.5 X 0.5 up to 20.4 X 11.9 mm. With age their size decreases somewhat. In 15% of cases the cardial lymph nodes together with lymphatic vessels connecting them form a closed chain in front, to the left and at the back of the cardia.