When Lung Cancer Spreads to Lymph Nodes - Verywell Health Lymphadenopathy, or enlarged lymph nodes, in and around the lungs can indicate an infection in the chest, such as the common cold or the flu, or a more serious infection like tuberculosis, as reported by Mayo Clinic. Lymph Nodes in Lung Cancer - News Medical Feb 2 20Evaluation of the hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes is part of the surgical treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC ). Lymph Nodes and Cancer Some lymph nodes are deep inside the body, such as between the lungs or around the bowel, to filter fluid in those areas. The lymph fluid slowly flows in from all around the body, making its way back to the chest. There are other causes for your enlarged lymph nodes in lungs, including: Cancers, like esophageal cancer, thyroid cancer or breast cancer. It is also vital to the staging of lung cancer, which determines the need for adjuvant chemotherapy to improve survival odds in certain stages of NSCLC.
Lymph nodes are evaluated according to the AJCC staging system.