The intercostal lymph nodes lie near the heads and necks of the ribs at the back of each intercostal space. They drain the posterolateral chest wall, the parietal pleura and the vertebral column.
| Location | Posterior parts of the intercostal spaces, near the heads and necks of the ribs |
|---|---|
| Receives lymph from |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Filter lymph from the posterior and lateral thoracic wall and pleura.
Breast cancer and pleural tumours occasionally spread to these posterior nodes. Their efferents from the lower spaces descend to the cisterna chyli, and those from the upper spaces join the thoracic duct, so they can carry disease between chest and abdomen. They are seen only on cross-sectional imaging.
Spread of breast, lung or pleural cancer to posterior intercostal nodes, seen on CT or PET.
Involvement of intercostal nodes by malignant pleural mesothelioma.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
