Objective To examine the high-risk factors and prognosis of patients with superior interlobar lymph nodes (11s nodes) metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) located in the right middle or lower lobe.Methods The clinical data of 157 patients with NSCLC in the right middle or lower lobe from January 2015 to July 2020 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including 98 males and 59 females aged 23-86 (60.01±10.58) years. The patients underwent lobectomy and systemic lymph node dissection along with dissection of 11s nodes. They were divided into a 11s (+) group and a 11s (–) group according to whether the 11s nodes were involved.Results There were 31 patients with invasion in the 11s nodes, and the overall incidence of metastasis was 19.75%, including 13.64% with middle lobe tumors and 20.74% with lower lobe tumors. The 2R+4R nodes involvement was the influencing factor associated with 11s nodes metastasis (P=0.026). The 7th nodes and the inferior mediastinal lymph nodes involvement were high-risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients (P<0.05). The 11s nodes metastasis had nothing to do with the location of the tumor, and it was not an independent factor affecting disease-free survival.Conclusion The 11s nodes may be a transit for 2R+4R nodes metastasis in the right middle or lower lobe lung cancer, and the 11s nodes should be cleared in the surgical treatment for NSCLC in either the middle or lower lobe of the right lung. The influencing factors for disease-free survival after surgery for lung cancer in the right middle or lower lobe are the metastasis of the subcarinal lymph nodes and the inferior mediastinal lymph nodes.

Citation： CHEN Liang, LI Qingshu, GE Mingjian. Risk factors and prognosis of patients with superior interlobar lymph node metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer located in the right middle or lower lobe. Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2022, 29(12): 1612-1617. doi: 10.7507/1007-4848.202101095 Copy