Expansion
Left Virchow's node signals trouble below
Mnemonic
“Virchow is on the left, and Troisier feels it”:
- Virchow’s node is the left supraclavicular node
- A palpable node there is Troisier’s sign
The left side is involved because the thoracic duct drains the whole abdomen and the lower body and empties at the left jugulovenous angle, carrying malignant cells there first.
Classically it signals gastric carcinoma, but any intra-abdominal or thoracic primary can do it: pancreas, oesophagus, kidney, testis, ovary and lymphoma.
The right supraclavicular node drains the right lung, mediastinum and oesophagus, so it points to a thoracic rather than abdominal primary.
Expansion
- Virchow’s node - left supraclavicular lymph node
- Significance - possible marker of intra abdominal malignancy