VATS Resection of Right Cardiophrenic Lymphnodes

The cardiophrenic angle lymphnodes were classified by Rouvière (1) as diaphragmatic lymphnodes and divided into: 1)Anterior (prepericardic) draining portions of the diaphragm, liver , pleura and abdominal wall into the internal mammary chain 2) Middle (lateropericardic or juxtaphrenic) draining portions of the diaphragm, pericardium, pleura and liver into the anterior mediastinal chain.

They are rarely involved in primary thoracic malignancies but are frequently affected in ovarian cancer.

In this case we describe VATS resection of enlarged, PET FDG positive, right cardiophrenic lymphnodes in a patient with previous breast cancer and mediastinal lymphoma – treated by chemoradiotherapy. Final histology was negative for cancer (reactive hyperplasia).

References

1. Rouvière H. Anatomie des Lymphatiques de l ‘Homme. Masson et Cie, Paris, 1932.