Book 4 - Self Instructional Manual for Cancer Registrars - SEER ...

Lymph Nodes of the Abdomen and PelvisThe parietal nodes of the abdomen and pelvis are situated behind the peritoneum 1 and arecommonly called retrol_eritoneal nodes. These nodes lie parallel to the aorta and the iliac arteries(below the bifurcation Lof the aorta). The principal parietal nodes and some of the sites whoselymphatics drain directly into these nodes are:• Aortic (para-aortic) lymph nodes: kidney, suprarenal (adrenal) gland, ovary, testis, corpus uteri• Iliac (common, internal, external) lymph nodes: uterus, vagina, ovary• Sacral lymph nodes: rectum, uterus, prostate glandThe visceral nodes of the abdomen are located along the branches of the celiac artery (left gastric,hepatic and splenic arteries) and the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries. These three majorarteries branch off the aorta as it passes through the abdomen. The regional lymph nodes whichdrain the abdominal viscera and some of the sites which they drain are:• Superior or left gastric lymph nodes: stomach, intrathoracic esophagus• Inferior or right gastric lymph nodes: stomach, duodenum• Splenic lymph nodes: stomach, spleen, body and tail of pancreas• Superior mesenteric lymph nodes: jejunum, ileum, pancreas, ampulla of Vater• Inferior mesenteric lymph nodes: descending colon, splenic flexure, sigmoid colon,rectosigmoid, rectumRefer to Figure 13 for a diagram of abdominaland pelvic lymph nodes.The lymphatics following the course of the above named arteries carry the lymph back to nodeslocated along the aorta; however, the aortic nodes are considered distant nodes for abdominal sites.1peritoneum--The serous membrane lining the interior abdominal cavity and investing (covering)the abdominal viscera.2bifurcation--Division into two branches; in this example, division of the aorta into the right andleft common iliac arteries.81