Fig. 1From: Long-term outcomes after surgical dissection of inguinal lymph node metastasis from rectal or anal canal adenocarcinomaTypes of lymph node (LN) metastasis from lower rectal and anal canal adenocarcinoma classified by the presence or absence of mesorectal LN metastasis and lateral LN metastasis. Arrows indicate speculative route of metastasis from tumor to ILNs. Blue arrow indicates direct route and red arrow indicates indirect route (through internal and external iliac vessels) to inguinal lymph nodes from the rectum or anal canal. a mesorectal LN(−), lateral LN(−): 10 cases; b mesorectal LN(+), lateral LN(−): 11 cases; c mesorectal LN(−), lateral LN(+): 3 cases; d mesorectal LN(+), lateral LN(+): 7 casesBack to article page