Tracheobronchial nodes

Tracheobronchial lymph nodes are a group of lymph nodes located around the trachea and bronchi in the mediastinum. They are situated at the bifurcation of the trachea (carina) and along the main bronchi, and they receive lymphatic drainage from the lungs, bronchi, trachea, and posterior mediastinum. These nodes play a key role in the immune surveillance of the lower respiratory tract and are commonly involved in conditions such as sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, lymphoma, and metastatic lung cancer.

They are typically subdivided into several subgroups:

• Superior tracheobronchial (paratracheal) nodes located along the lateral aspects of the trachea above the main bronchi.

• Inferior tracheobronchial (subcarinal/carinal) nodes located at the carina, between the two main bronchi.

• Bronchopulmonary (hilar) nodes located at the hilum of each lung where the main bronchi and pulmonary vessels enter.

In oncologic staging (e.g., lung cancer), these nodes correspond to specific lymph node stations in the IASLC (International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer) lymph node map, including stations 2, 4 (paratracheal), 7 (subcarinal), and 10 (hilar). Involvement of these nodes is critical in determining the Nstage and guiding treatment decisions.