Lung cancer metastasis into the supraclavicular and cervical lymph nodes in relation to the primary site of the tumor
Shimechek, T.; Bruga, F.
Terapevticheskii Arkhiv 52(12): 66-68
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0040-3660 PMID: 6264646 Document Number: 162029
On the 1st clinical examination of 1579 lung cancer patients, 104 (6.6%) had metastases of the cervical and supraclavicular lymph nodes. The most frequent (13.5%) were metastases of oat cell cancer; relatively infrequent (2.5%) were those of the epidermoid tumor. The frequency of the cancer metastases to lymph nodes of the affected and opposite side showed no differences in tumor histological structure. There was a statistically significant connection between the primary tumor localization and the site of its metastasis. Cancer of the upper lobe of the right and of the first 3 segments of the left lung usually metastatized to the lymph nodes of the same side; cancer affecting other segments of the lungs invaded the nodes of both sides equally frequently. Puncture of palpable supraclavicular and cervical lymph nodes with subsequent cytological examination of the specimens facilitates the process of diagnosis and is recommended in determining the need for surgery.