Radiology, Vol 196, 387-394, Copyright © 1995 by Radiological Society of North America
Hilar lymph nodes: identification with spiral CT and histologic correlation
M Remy-Jardin, P Duyck, J Remy, L Petyt, A Wurtz, E Mensier, MC Copin and M Riquet
Department of Radiology, Hopital Calmette, Lille, France.
PURPOSE: To determine the appearance of normal hilar lymph nodes and
associated soft tissue at spiral computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND
METHODS: At spiral CT in 50 healthy patients, peribronchovascular
hypoattenuated areas of 42 right and 45 left hila were systematically
evaluated. Histologic results were correlated in five additional cases.
RESULTS: Hilar lymph nodes were depicted (a) in the right hilum (lateral to
A2 [n = 33 (79%)], medial [n = 29 (69%)] or lateral [n = 11 (26%)] to the
interlobar pulmonary artery, and medial to the lower-lobe pulmonary artery
[n = 30 (71%)], A7 [n = 9 (21%)], and A8-10 [n = 8 (19%)]; and (b) in the
left hilum (lateral to A2 [n = 22 (49%)], medial to the interlobar
pulmonary artery [n = 45 (100%)], and the lower-lobe pulmonary artery [n =
27 (60%)], and in the angles of bifurcation of A7 + 8 and A9 + 10 [n = 18
(40%)]). Hilar lymph nodes were seen to be triangular or linear and to be
less than 3 mm wide except around the left-lower-lobe pulmonary artery.
CONCLUSION: Spiral CT accurately depicts normal hilar lymph nodes and their
major anatomic relationships.
