[Patterns of mediastinal and supraclavicular metastases in apical invasive lung cancer--importance of supraclavicular lymph node dissection].

Thirty-one patients with apical invasive lung cancer, who underwent surgical therapy were analyzed. In the patients with palpable nodal metastases in the supraclavicular region, the lymph nodes were dissected through a collar incision in supine position after thoracotomy. In the patients without palpable nodes, the supraclavicular nodes were dissected through the same wound and in the same position after the tumor was resected by the hook or anterior approach. N factor was N0 in eighteen patients, N1 in two patients, N2 in seven patients, and N3 in four patients. The ratio of supraclavicular metastasis was 33.3%. Patterns of mediastinal and supraclavicular metastases were classified into three types. Type I (supraclavicular type): metastasized directly to the supraclavicular nodes via the chest wall, Type II (mediastinal type): metastasized via a common route from hilum to mediastinum, Type III (mixed type): combination of Type I and Type II. Of the nine patients who had N2 or N3 disease uncovered by supraclavicular lymph node dissection, one patient was Type I, six were Type II, and two were Type III. Of the four patients with supraclavicular node metastasis, two had palpable nodes and two histological metastasis. The nodes were metastasized via the chest wall in three patients. Two patients with N3 disease are still alive without recurrence, one patient for eighty-six months and another for twenty months after the operation. Since supraclavicular lymph nodes are local and very near from involved structures of apical invasive lung cancer, dissection of these nodes will provide improved prognosis.