Lymphatic drainage of the lower third of the oesophagus drains primarily to:

• A Posterior mediastinal nodes
• B Right paratracheal nodes
• C Left gastric (coeliac) nodes ✓
• D Thoracic duct directly without nodal relay

Explanation

The oesophagus has segmental lymphatic drainage: the upper third drains to deep cervical nodes, the middle third drains to posterior mediastinal and paratracheal nodes, and the lower third drains predominantly to the left gastric (cardio-oesophageal) nodes of the coeliac group. This explains why carcinoma of the lower oesophagus and gastro-oesophageal junction most often metastasises to coeliac/left gastric nodes, which are intra-abdominal, making complete surgical clearance difficult. This drainage pattern is tested clinically in staging oesophageal carcinoma.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.