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. Whatever the side injected, the lymphatic vessels mainly directed toward the tracheobronchial nodes (n = 35) and less frequently toward the prepericardial lymphatic vessels and nodes (n = 14). Such results demonstrate the aggravating role played by the lymphatic drainage in the prognosis of the lung cancers invading the pericardium.