Assessment of Lymph Node Status in Gastric Cancer. Part 1: CT-anatomy of Regional Lymph Nodes
Purpose: presentation of CT anatomy of regional lymph nodes in gastric cancer Materials and methods. The work is based on the literature data and the results of MDCT 91 patients with gastric cancer. The study was performed with a multidetector row CT scanners (Somatom Emotion 6 and Somatom Sensation Open; Siemens, Germany). Results. On the basis of the Japanese classification of gastric carcinoma we grouped the regional lymph nodes sites into 10 areas that could be easily visualized by CT: lymph nodes of diaphragmatic esophageal hiatus, lesser curvature, cardial, hepatoduodenal, celiac trunk, splenic, greater curvature, mesocolon, peripancreatic and para-aortic. Conclusion. This pictorial review can be used as a handbook to learn the nomenclature and location of the regional lymph nodes for the gastric cancer detected with CT imaging. Knowledge of the CT anatomy of regional lymph nodes allows radiologists to improve the accuracy of the diagnostic conclusions and assess the degree of lymphatic spread of tumor.