The importance of anatomical localization of non-small cell lung carcinoma in predicting mediastinal lymph node metastasis.

Bronchopulmonary segmental location of non-small lung carcinomas is closely related to metastatic lymph node foci in the mediastinum. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between the anatomical locations of pulmonary masses on the bronchopulmonary segmental base and metastatic lymph node regions in non-small cell lung cancer using preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT images. Ninety patients newly diagnosed with non-small cell lung carcinoma and referred to PET/CT imaging for staging were included in the study.