The prelaryngeal lymph nodes are one to a few small nodes on the cricothyroid membrane in front of the larynx. The best-known is the Delphian node, so named because its involvement was said to predict the course of disease. They belong to the central compartment (level VI) of the neck.
| Location | Midline of the anterior neck, on the cricothyroid membrane and in front of the larynx |
|---|---|
| Receives lymph from |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Filter lymph from the lower larynx and upper thyroid.
A palpable Delphian node may signal spread from thyroid cancer or cancer of the subglottic larynx and is linked with more advanced disease. It is cleared during central neck dissection for thyroid cancer. These nodes may also enlarge in autoimmune thyroiditis.
Spread of papillary thyroid or laryngeal cancer to the prelaryngeal node, associated with a higher risk of further nodal disease.
Reactive enlargement of central neck nodes in Hashimoto thyroiditis.
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