*Thoracic lymph nodes are classified into 14 stations:
*Station number 1 : Low cervical, Supraclavicular and Sternal notch nodes.(R and L).
*Station number 2 : Upper paratracheal nodes (R and L).
*Station number 3 : Prevascular(3a) and Retrotracheal nodes (3p).
*Station number 4 : Lower paratracheal nodes (R and L).
*Station number 5 : Subaortic (aortopulmonary window).
*Station number 6 : Paraaortic (ascending aorta or diaphragm).
*Station number 7 : Subcarinal nodes (R and L).
*Station number 8 : Paraesophageal (below carina) nodes (Right and Left).
*Station number 9 : Pulmonary ligament nodes
*Station number 10,11,12,13,14 : Hilar(Right and Left), Interlobar(11s and 11i), Lobar, Segmental and Subsegmental.
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- Station 1 : Supraclavicular zone.
- Stations 2,3,4 : Superior Mediastinal nodes.
- Stations 5,6 : Aortic nodes.
- Stations 7,8,9 : Inferior Mediastinal nodes.
- Stations 10,11,12,13,14 : N1 nodes.
- Stations 10,11,12,13,14 , when involved are considered stage N1 disease of lung cancer.
- Ipsilateral Mediastinal nodes involvement : Stations 2,3,4 and 7,8,9 - Stage N2 disease of lung cancer.
- Lymph nodes on the side opposite the primary tumor, and all significantly large lymph nodes in the ipsilateral or contralateral supraclavicular or scalene regions, are considered stage N3 disease.
