Lateral pericardial nodes

At a glance

English

Lateral pericardial nodes

Latin (TA2)

Nodi pericardiaci laterales

System

Lymphatic

Region

Whole body

Side

Single, on the midline

About the lateral pericardial nodes

The lateral pericardial nodes are small nodes of the anterior and middle mediastinum. They lie against the side of the fibrous pericardium, in the thin layer of tissue between the pericardium and the mediastinal pleura. Here the phrenic nerve and the pericardiacophrenic vessels run down over the heart towards the diaphragm, and the nodes lie along their course.

They are part of a ring of small nodes around the pericardium. In front lie the prepericardial nodes behind the sternum, and below, on the upper surface of the diaphragm, lie the superior diaphragmatic nodes. Together these collect lymph from the pericardium and the neighbouring pleura.

Their lymph usually drains upwards towards the anterior mediastinal and brachiocephalic nodes, which in turn empty into the bronchomediastinal trunks.

These nodes are not normally seen or felt. They may enlarge with lymphoma or with cancer spreading through the mediastinum, and on cross-sectional imaging an enlarged node beside the heart must be told apart from a pericardial cyst or a fat pad. Surgeons working on the pericardium keep the phrenic nerve in view in this plane.

Course and drainage

Begins at

Afferent vessels from the pericardium and the adjacent mediastinal pleura.

Drains into

Efferent vessels usually pass upwards to the anterior mediastinal and brachiocephalic nodes, and so to the bronchomediastinal trunks.

Drains

Filters lymph from the pericardium and nearby pleura. May enlarge with lymphoma or mediastinal spread of cancer, and must be distinguished from other masses beside the heart.