Review of the international association for the study of lung cancer lymph node classification system: localization of lymph node stations on CT imaging

Abstract

The aim of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) lymph node map is to provide anatomic descriptions of the thoracic lymph node stations used to stage lung cancer patients. CT imaging is used in clinical staging of lung cancer patients. It is important to be able to correctly identify and classify thoracic lymphadenopathy present on CT imaging, allowing for medical or surgical sampling of the appropriate lymph nodes stations to diagnose and stage the cancer. This article revisits the IASLC lymph node map and illustrates the appearance of the IASLC lymph node stations on CT imaging.

Keywords: CT; Imaging; International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer lymph node map; Lymph node stations.