Objective identification of the caudal border of station 1 for lung cancer surgery

During lung cancer surgery, a lack of appropriate anatomical landmarks makes the determination of lymph node stations arbitrary. With the aim of remedying this situation, we have focused on the confluence of the internal mammary vein (IMV) to the superior vena cava. Preoperative multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) makes it possible to accurately measure the distance between the caudal border of station 1 and the confluence of the IMV. This preoperative measurement makes the determination of station 1 more objective.