Ultrasound assessment of lymph nodes for staging of gynecological cancer: consensus opinion on terminology and examination technique
Language English Country England, Great Britain Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article
Grant support
CZ-DRO-VFN64165
General University Hospital in Prague
NU21-03-00461
Ministerstvo Zdravotnictví Ceské Republiky
NV19-03-00552
Ministerstvo Zdravotnictví Ceské Republiky
UNCE/24/MED/018
lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy
PubMed
39513930
DOI
10.1002/uog.29127
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- Keywords
- anatomy, clinical cases, gynecological malignancy, lymph nodes, lymphatic drainage, ultrasonography,
- MeSH
- Consensus MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Lymphatic Metastasis * diagnostic imaging pathology MeSH
- Lymph Nodes * diagnostic imaging pathology MeSH
- Genital Neoplasms, Female * pathology diagnostic imaging MeSH
- Neoplasm Staging methods MeSH
- Terminology as Topic MeSH
- Ultrasonography methods MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
The lymphatic pathway is an important route of metastasis in gynecological malignancy. Therefore, the examination of lymph nodes is an essential part of the ultrasound evaluation in patients with known or suspected gynecological malignancy. The lymph nodes most frequently involved in gynecological malignancy (apart from vulvar cancer) are parietal (retroperitoneal) and visceral abdominopelvic lymph nodes. In advanced disease, more distant lymph-node regions, such as the inguinal, axillary and supraclavicular lymph nodes, can also be involved. The standardized description of lymph nodes has been published previously by the Vulvar International Tumor Analysis (VITA) collaborative group. Herein, a collaborative group of gynecologists and gynecological oncologists with extensive ultrasound experience presents a systematic methodology for ultrasonographic lymph-node assessment performed as part of the locoregional and distant work-up to assess the extent of gynecological malignancy. The aim of this consensus opinion is also to describe the anatomical classification and drainage pathways of the lymphatic system as relevant to the gynecological organs. © 2024 The Author(s). Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Department of Biomedical Science for Health University of Milan Milan Italy
Department of Gynaecological Oncology KK Women's and Children's Hospital Singapore
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Faculty of Medicine Semmelweis University Budapest Hungary
Institute of Anatomy 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague Czech Republic
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department University Hospital Waterford Waterford Ireland
See more in PubMed
Guo J, Qian H, Ma F, Zhang Y, Cui X, Duan H. The characteristics of isolated para‐aortic lymph node metastases in endometrial cancer and their prognostic significance. Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2020;12:1758835920933036.
Loukas M, Wartmann CT, Louis RG Jr, et al. Cisterna chyli: a detailed anatomic investigation. Clin Anat. 2007;20:683‐688.
Pinto P, Valentin L, Borcinova M, et al. Patient satisfaction with ultrasound, whole‐body CT and whole‐body diffusion‐weighted MRI for pre‐operative ovarian cancer staging: a multicenter prospective cross‐sectional survey. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2024;34:871‐878.
Saini S, Seltzer SE, Bramson RT, et al. Technical cost of radiologic examinations: analysis across imaging modalities. Radiology. 2000;216:269‐272.
Fischerova D, Garganese G, Reina H, et al. Terms, definitions and measurements to describe sonographic features of lymph nodes: consensus opinion from the Vulvar International Tumor Analysis (VITA) group. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2021;57:861‐879.
Fischerova D, Smet C, Scovazzi U, Sousa DN, Hundarova K, Haldorsen IS. Staging by imaging in gynecologic cancer and the role of ultrasound: an update of European joint consensus statements. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2024;34:363‐378.
FIPAT. Terminologia Anatomica. 2nd ed. Federative International Programme for Anatomical Terminology; 2019 FIPAT.library.dal.ca.
Dabi Y, Bendifallah S, Kolanska K, et al. Anatomical basis of lymph node detection in gynecologic cancers: a review from a surgical perspective. Chin Clin Oncol. 2021;10:15.
Lengele B, Scalliet P. Anatomical bases for the radiological delineation of lymph node areas. Part III: pelvis and lower limbs. Radiother Oncol. 2009;92:22‐33.
Lengele B, Nyssen‐Behets C, Scalliet P. Anatomical bases for the radiological delineation of lymph node areas. Upper limbs, chest and abdomen. Radiother Oncol. 2007;84:335‐347.
Standring S, Gray HG. Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 42nd ed. Elsevier; 2020.
Fischerova D, Culcasi C, Gatti E, Ng Z, Burgetova A, Szabò G. Ultrasound assessment of the pelvic sidewall: methodological consensus opinion. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2025;65(1):94‐105.
Gallotta V, Fanfani F, Fagotti A, et al. Mesenteric lymph node involvement in advanced ovarian cancer patients undergoing rectosigmoid resection: prognostic role and clinical considerations. Ann Surg Oncol. 2014;21:2369‐2375.
Fischerova D. Ultrasound scanning of the pelvis and abdomen for staging of gynecological tumors: a review. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2011;38:246‐266.
Daseler EH, Anson BJ, Reimann AF. Radical excision of the inguinal and iliac lymph glands; a study based upon 450 anatomical dissections and upon supportive clinical observations. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1948;87:679‐694.
Abu‐Hijleh MF, Habbal OA, Moqattash ST. The role of the diaphragm in lymphatic absorption from the peritoneal cavity. J Anat. 1995;186(Pt 3):453‐467.
Thomakos N, Diakosavvas M, Machairiotis N, Fasoulakis Z, Zarogoulidis P, Rodolakis A. Rare distant metastatic disease of ovarian and peritoneal carcinomatosis: a review of the literature. Cancers (Basel). 2019;11:1044.
Agusti N, Bonaldo G, Kahn RM, et al. Cardiophrenic lymph nodes in advanced ovarian cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2023;34:150‐158.
Parungo CP, Soybel DI, Colson YL, et al. Lymphatic drainage of the peritoneal space: a pattern dependent on bowel lymphatics. Ann Surg Oncol. 2007;14:286‐298.
Mert I, Kumar A, Sheedy SP, et al. Clinical significance of enlarged cardiophrenic lymph nodes in advanced ovarian cancer: implications for survival. Gynecol Oncol. 2018;148:68‐73.
Acs M, Piso P, Prader S. Current status of metastatic cardiophrenic lymph nodes (CPLNs) in patients with ovarian cancer: a review. Anticancer Res. 2022;42:13‐24.
Feragalli B, Mantini C, Civitareale N, Polverosi R, Tartaro A, Cotroneo AR. Extrapleural and cardiophrenic lymph nodes: prevalence, clinical significance and diagnostic value. Radiol Med. 2014;119:20‐26.
Im HJ, Kim YI, Paeng JC, Chung JK, Kang SB, Lee DS. Retrocrural lymph node metastasis disclosed by (18)F‐FDG PET/CT: a predictor of supra‐diaphragmatic spread in ovarian cancer. Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2012;46:41‐47.
Aldridge T, Kusanale A, Colbert S, Brennan PA. Supraclavicular metastases from distant primaries: what is the role of the head and neck surgeon? Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2013;51:288‐293.
Mizutani M, Nawata S, Hirai I, Murakami G, Kimura W. Anatomy and histology of Virchow's node. Anat Sci Int. 2005;80:193‐198.
Tanaka T, Ohmichi M. Recurrent ovarian cancer presenting in the right supraclavicular lymph node with isolated metastasis: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2012;6:176.
Lengele B, Hamoir M, Scalliet P, Gregoire V. Anatomical bases for the radiological delineation of lymph node areas. Major collecting trunks, head and neck. Radiother Oncol. 2007;85:146‐155.
Ying M, Bhatia KSS, Lee YP, Yuen HY, Ahuja AT. Review of ultrasonography of malignant neck nodes: greyscale, Doppler, contrast enhancement and elastography. Cancer Imaging. 2014;13:658‐669.
El Asmar A, Veys I, Larsimont D, Donckier V, Liberale G. Inferior epigastric artery lymph nodes: a pathway for systemic dissemination from peritoneal carcinomatosis? J Surg Oncol. 2021;123:311‐314.
Hasdemir PS, Aras F, Solmaz U, Guvenal T. Vulvar cancer with bilateral axillary lymph node metastasis. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2016;36:265‐266.
Kay S. Evaluation of Rotter's lymph nodes in radical mastectomy specimens as a guide to prognosis. Cancer. 1965;18:1441‐1444.
Ecanow JS, Abe H, Newstead GM, Ecanow DB, Jeske JM. Axillary staging of breast cancer: what the radiologist should know. Radiographics. 2013;33:1589‐1612.
Berg JW. The significance of axillary node levels in the study of breast carcinoma. Cancer. 1955;8:776‐778.
Dialani V, James DF, Slanetz PJ. A practical approach to imaging the axilla. Insights Imaging. 2015;6:217‐229.
Harris SR. Ovarian cancer metastases to internal mammary nodes. Breast J. 2019;25:351‐352.
Barros AC, Mori LJ, Nishimura D, Jacomo AL. Surgical anatomy of the internal thoracic lymph nodes in fresh human cadavers: basis for sentinel node biopsy. World J Surg Oncol. 2016;14:135.
Urano M, Denewar FA, Murai T, et al. Internal mammary lymph node metastases in breast cancer: what should radiologists know? Jpn J Radiol. 2018;36:629‐640.