Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

Where are the sentinel nodes, also known as Virchow's nodes, typically located?

1. Right axillary area

2. Left supraclavicular area

3. Posterior cervical chain

4. Submandibular chain

The correct answer is: Left supraclavicular area

The sentinel nodes, known as Virchow's nodes, are typically located in the left supraclavicular area. These lymph nodes are significant in oncology, particularly for indicating metastatic disease, as they receive lymphatic drainage from various regions of the body, including the thoracic cavity and abdominal organs. When malignancies, especially those in the gastrointestinal tract, spread, they often do so through the lymphatic system, making Virchow's nodes an important clinical marker for potential cancer spread. The left supraclavicular node is particularly notable as it is often the first site affected by metastatic cancer from the abdomen, especially gastric cancers. The presence of enlarged Virchow's nodes can indicate more systemic disease, which is why clinicians pay close attention to these nodes during examinations. The other locations provided in the options do not carry the same significance as indicators of systemic metastatic disease from the abdomen.