Abdominal lymph node metastasis by lymphatic spread through the thoracic duct in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

This study suggests that the thoracic duct is one of the potential routes of lymphatic spread to the abdominal lymph nodes. Clinicians should assess for the presence of ALNM during staging work-up and follow-up for NSCLC patients with intrathoracic lesion in left thorax and with high N category.