[Squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea: imaging lymph node mapping].

The anatomy of the trachea lymphatics is poorly understood and the only researches date back to more than one century. Tracheal tumors are very rare, miscellaneous and variously lymphophilic. The cancers of the trachea have no TNM and their lymph node metastases are little studied despite their poor prognosis.

Renal lymphatic drainage and thoracic duct connections: implications for cancer spread.

Studies on renal lymph drainage have generally described lymph nodes without further investigation of the lymph vessels. Our purpose was to revisit this organ to study the vessel drainage pattern. This investigation was performed on 16 refrigerated adult cadavers.

Postmastectomy lymphedema: long-term results following microsurgical lymph node transplantation.

Background And Objectives: Lymphedema complicating breast cancer treatment remains a challenging problem. The purpose of this study was to analyze the long-term results following microsurgical lymph node (LN) transplantation.

Methods: Twenty-four female patients with lymphedema for more than 5 years underwent LN transplantation.

[Systematization of proper lymphatic vessels of the diaphragm].

The aim of this study was to demonstrate lymphatic vessels of the diaphragm, its connexions with mediastinum and abdominal cavity in order to better understand propagation of neoplasic or infectious processes. Diaphragmatic pleura of 30 adult cadavers and 12 fetuses, unscathed of any cardiopulmonary pathology, were injected with modified Gerota's medium to permit lymph vessels and nodes to be visualized and then dissected. Each stage of dissection was described and photographed.

Lymphatic drainage of the diaphragmatic pleura to the peritracheobronchial lymph nodes.

Non-small cell lung cancer invading the visceral pleura is characterized by a particular richness of mediastinal lymph node (LN) metastases. This may be due to subpleural lymphatic drainage of tumor cells. The aim of this study was to determine mediastinal LN lymphatic drainage from the diaphragmatic pleura.

The cutaneo-lymph node flap of the superficial circumflex artery.

Upper limb lymphoedema and associated radiation-damaged chest wall are complications occurring after breast cancer treatment. Previous anatomical and clinical studies have demonstrated the usefulness of inguinal lymph node autotransplantation in managing lymphoedema. The present anatomical study is a complement to previous studies about the cutaneous inguinal flap.

Thoracic duct tributaries from intrathoracic organs.

Background: The thoracic duct (TD) is the main collecting vessel of the lymphatic system. Little is known about the intrathoracic tributaries of the TD, which are named intercostal, mediastinal, and bronchomediastinal trunks. The purpose of the study was to identify the lymphatic tributaries from intrathoracic organs to the thoracic duct.

Lymphatic drainage of the pericardium to the mediastinal lymph nodes.

The lymphatic drainage of the pericardium may have a prognostic value in lung cancer and its anatomical pattern was the purpose of this study. The lymphatic vessels of the pericardium were visualized on 12 fresh adult human cadavers by injection of a green colorant by means of the classical equipment for pedal lymphography. Seventeen injections were performed on the right side and 22 injections on the left side, visualizing 20 and 29 lymphatic pathways respectively.

Mediastinal lymphatic efferents from the diaphragm.

The prognosis of non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) invading the diaphragm is poor, probably due to the richness of the lymphatic drainage of the diaphragm. The aim of this study was to determine mediastinal lymphatic efferents from the diaphragm. The diaphragms of 20 adult cadavers (77-104 years) were injected with a dye (modified Gerota's medium) to permit the lymph vessels to be catheterised and then dissected.

Lymphatic drainage of heart and lungs: comparison between pig and man.

In its anatomy and physiology the pig is comparable with humans and its organs can be considered for xenotransplantation. We have studied the lymphatic drainage of the heart and lungs in 15 pigs. A coloured mass was injected into the myocardium and/or beneath the visceral pleura.

Anatomy and blood supply of the lower four cranial and cervical nerves: relevance to surgical neck dissection.

This study is a continuation of previous work searching for possible anatomic reasons to explain variable and usually unpredictable postoperative pain and dysfunction after the same nerve losses with similar neck dissection operations. The study consisted of dissections of 19 deceased unpreserved elderly subjects arterially injected with dyed latex. Of the 19 subjects, 14 had brain stem and cervical spinal cord dissections, and all had neck dissections.

Cervical venous anastomoses of pulmonary lymphatic vessels.

The aim of this study was to describe in detail the anastomoses between the pulmonary lymphatic vessels and the veins of the neck so as to better understand their role in certain aspects of thoracic surgery. The lymphatic vessels of 687 pulmonary segments in 360 cadavers were injected. A detailed study of the proximal end of the right paratracheal, right tracheo-esophageal, left preaortocarotid and left recurrent lymph node chains was undertaken.

[Cervical venous anastomoses of pulmonary lymphatic origin].

The aim of this study was to describe in detail the anastomoses between pulmonary lymphatic vessels and veins of the neck so as to better understand certain complications in thoracic surgery. Lymphatic vessels of 687 pulmonary segments in 360 cadavers were injected. Detailed study of the end of the right paratracheal, right thoraco oesophageal, left preaorticocarotid and left recurrent lymph node chains was undertaken.

Anatomic basis of lymphatic spread of lung carcinoma to the mediastinum: anatomo-clinical correlations.

Correlation of the anatomic and surgical features in 360 cadavers and in 260 patients operated for bronchial carcinoma reveals that the lymphatics of the lung reach the ipsilateral mediastinum, sometimes directly and sometimes by sites which do not correspond to the anatomic site of the injection or of the pulmonary lesion. This implies the need for systematic eradication of all the lymph nodes of the ipsilateral mediastinum during surgery for bronchial carcinoma. In cases of tumoral lesions (N2), the prognosis is better when only one site is involved, whether the nodal disease is microscopic, uni- or multiglandular, with or without rupture of the capsule and whatever treatment is carried out, even when resection seems macroscopically complete to the surgeon.

[The lymphatic drainage of the esophagus].

The study was carried on 65 cadavers: 50 adults and 15 newborns. The esophagus was injected at the level to the neck 16 times, in the thorax at the superior level 18 times, middle level 30 times and inferior level 21 times. The lymphatic pathways were named short when joining the nodes at the same level, half long when joining the nodes of the neighbouring level, long when joining third level, and very long.

[Lymphatic drainage of the heart].

The study was carried out on 91 adult cadavers to point out clearly the lymphatic drainages of the heart into the blood circulation. 45 right and 63 left ventricles and 9 right and 5 left atria were injected by means of a green modified gerota medium. A right collecting trunk received its afferents from 29 right and 5 left ventricles, ran upwards in front of the ascending aorta, involved the left brachiocephalic nodes and opened into the left subclavicular veins but also in 1 case in 5 into thoracic duct.

[The bronchial arteries and their anastomoses with the coronary arteries].

We studied bronchial arteries (BA) and their anastomoses with coronary arteries in 53 adult subjects (30 female and 23 male, mean age 82) and one 2 month old child. Each subject had 1 to 4 BAs, born from an area on the anterior side of the descending aorta measuring less than 2 cm in diameter in 62 percent of the cases and never exceeding 4 cm in the other cases. In 6 cases BAs vascularize the left auricle; more than half of all cases had an anastomose with the coronary arteries: 11 with the right coronary artery and 9 with the left one.

[Pericardial fatty fringes: preoperative anatomo-radiographic value of their use in the protection of bronchial sutures].

Bronchial sutures grafts by epiplooplasty is a method used to allow a better vascularisation of the bronchial sutures. The authors purpose an other method using the pericardial fatty fringes (P.F.

Routes of lymphatic drainage from the pancreas: a suggested segmentation.

The peripancreatic lymphatics were dissected after intrapancreatic injections of different colorants by territory. The aim of this study was partly to determine the lymphatic drainage routes specific to each pancreatic segment, and partly to define the nodal relay stations for each territory. Whatever the site of injection in the segment of the body and tail, the dye followed the splenic and inferior pancreatic pathways before reaching a left intercelio-mesenteric node (ICMN) and then the supra- and infrarenal nodal groups.

[Parameters of the facial bones in the fetus. Anthropology and medico-legal application for the determination of the fetal age].

From 93 skulls and 23 foeto-skeletals we give a glimpse of the rhythme of the human foetuse's facial bones growth and the main variations for facial measurements rating during foetal period. The best correlation between foetal age and facial measurements was obtained with facial height (correlation coefficient: 0.96).