On examination, a 55-year-old man has a firm palpable node lying deep to the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, superior to the inferior belly of the omohyoid. To which nodal level does this station correspond?
- A Level VA ✓
- B Level III
- C Level II
- D Level VB
Correct answer: A. Level VA
Explanation
The posterior triangle group constitutes level V, subdivided at the transverse plane marking the lower border of the cricoid cartilage, which corresponds roughly to the inferior belly of omohyoid. Nodes above this plane are VA and those below are VB. Levels II and III lie anterior to the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid, so a node located behind that muscle cannot be assigned to either of them.
Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.