Diagnostic Ultrasound - Abdomen and Pelvis

Abdominal Lymph Nodes
RETROPERITONEAL LYMPH NODES
Anatomy: Abdomen
Thoracic duct
Celiac nodes
Superior mesenteric
nodes
Cisterna chyli
Lumbar trunks (of
cisterna chyli)
Intestinal trunk (of
cisternal chyli)
Right lumbar (retrocaval)
nodes
Lumbar (paraaortic)
nodes
Aortocaval nodes
Inferior mesenteric nodes
Common iliac nodes
External iliac nodes
Internal iliac
(hypogastric) nodes
Graphic shows that the major lymphatics and lymph nodes of the abdomen are located along, and share the same name as the major
blood vessels, such as the external iliac nodes, celiac, and superior mesenteric nodes. The paraaortic and paracaval nodes are also
referred to as the lumbar nodes and receive afferents from the lower abdominal viscera, abdominal wall, and lower extremities; they
are frequently involved in inflammatory and neoplastic processes. The lumbar trunks join with an intestinal trunk (at about the L1 level)
to form the cisterna chyli, which may be a discrete sac or a plexiform convergence. The cisterna chyli and other major lymphatic trunks
join to form the thoracic duct, which passes through the aortic hiatus to enter the mediastinum. After picking up additional lymphatic
trunks within the thorax, the thoracic duct empties into the left subclavian or innominate vein.
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