Abstract
Because of their proximity to the coronary vein and thoracic duct, the para cardiac lymph nodes are liable to develop both venous and lymphatic conges tion. The authors studied morphologic changes in the paracardiac lymph nodes in patients with portal hypertension.
Paracardiac lymph nodes were obtained during surgery from 40 volunteer patients with esophageal varices due to schistosomal portal hypertension (29 nonbleeders, 11 bleeders). Paracardiac lymph nodes from 10 volunteer patients having surgery for correction of incisional hernia served as controls.
The main histologic difference found in this study was the lower incidence of necrosis in nonbleeders. This indicates the possible role played by inadequate lymphatic drainage of the excessive lymph produced by the congested varices- bearing area in the bleeder.
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