Benign lymph node inclusions

Abstract

Whether obtained during a radical surgical procedure, or as the only tissue removed in various cancer staging procedures, or as incidental tissue, lymph nodes may yield pivotal histopathologic information relating to further disposition of the patient. Most important are those cases in which lymph node findings are relied upon to establish a diagnosis of malignant disease. The two cases presented here (in addition to the few reports in the literature) represent two heretofore unreported sites of occurrence of such benign inclusions. There is need for an awareness of the occurrence, benign nature, and potentially misleading associations with frequent sites of malignant change in which metastasis to regional lymph nodes is known to occur. Particularly with the growing use of mediastinoscopy the misinterpretation of such benign inclusions could prompt the insitution of incorrect and potentially hazardous therapy or a decision to withhold therapy.