Intrapulmonary lymph nodes
Last revised by Daniel J Bell ◉ on 21 Apr 2022
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Weerakkody Y, Bell D, Di Muzio B, et al. Intrapulmonary lymph nodes. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 27 Mar 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-25079
Permalink:
rID:
25079
Article created:
3 Oct 2013, Yuranga Weerakkody ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.
View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosuresLast revised:
21 Apr 2022, Daniel J Bell ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosuresRevisions:
16 times, by 6 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Intra-pulmonary lymph nodes
- Intra-pulmonary lymph node
- Lymph nodes within the lung
- Lymph nodes within the lungs
- Pulmonary lymph nodes
Intrapulmonary lymph nodes, or pulmonary lymph nodes, are normal lymph nodes found within the lung parenchyma itself. They are commonly found during the assessment of CTs of the chest and are, sometimes, difficult to distinguish from pulmonary nodules.
The pulmonary lymph nodes are divided into subtypes accordingly to their location:
- perifissural lymph nodes 2
-
peribronchial lymph nodes
- at the bifurcation of the bronchi, before the fourth branch
- intraparenchymal lymph nodes
Radiographic features
CT
- around 6 mm in size (usually reported range around 3-8.5 mm) 1
- most tend to be below the carinal level (i.e. lower lobes and middle lobe 4)
- nodules may be oval, round, triangular, trapezoidal or polygonal
- may have sharply defined borders
- tend to be solid and homogeneous and without calcification
- some nodules may show a discrete thin tag extending to the pleura
References
- 1. Shaham D, Vazquez M, Bogot NR et-al. CT features of intrapulmonary lymph nodes confirmed by cytology. Clin Imaging. 2010;34 (3): 185-90. doi:10.1016/j.clinimag.2009.05.005 - Pubmed citation
- 2. Ahn MI, Gleeson TG, Chan IH et-al. Perifissural nodules seen at CT screening for lung cancer. Radiology. 2010;254 (3): 949-56. Radiology (full text) - doi:10.1148/radiol.09090031 - Pubmed citation
- 3. Kinoshita A, Nakano M, Suyama N et-al. Intrapulmonary lymph nodes. Intern. Med. 1995;33 (11): 727-9. Pubmed citation
- 4. Bankoff MS, McEniff NJ, Bhadelia RA et-al. Prevalence of pathologically proven intrapulmonary lymph nodes and their appearance on CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1996;167 (3): 629-30. doi:10.2214/ajr.167.3.8751667 - Pubmed citation
- 5. Suwatanapongched T, Gierada DS. CT of thoracic lymph nodes. Part I: anatomy and drainage. Br J Radiol. 2006;79 (947): 922-8. Br J Radiol (full text) - doi:10.1259/bjr/26411607 - Pubmed citation
- 6. Suwatanapongched T, Gierada DS. CT of thoracic lymph nodes. Part II: diseases and pitfalls. Br J Radiol. 2006;79 (948): 999-1000. doi:10.1259/bjr/82484604 - Pubmed citation
- 7. https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/ryct.2020190159 - to be linked once citeitrgiht working
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