Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) Practice Test 2025 - Free CSFA Practice Questions and Study Guide

When performing a segmental pulmonary resection for lung cancer, examining the lobar lymph nodes is crucial. The lobar nodes, located along the major bronchi leading to each lobe of the lung, play a significant role in staging lung cancer and determining the extent of disease spread. These nodes are essential to assess as they can provide critical information regarding the presence of metastasis from the primary tumor in the lung.

Evaluating these nodes helps establish an accurate cancer stage and informs postoperative treatment decisions, such as the potential need for adjuvant therapy. The status of the lobar lymph nodes is vital in providing an overall assessment of the patient's prognosis and the adequacy of the surgical resection.

While the hilar, subcarinal, and intercostal nodes also contribute important information about lymphatic spread in lung cancer, the lobar nodes are specifically focused upon during segmental resections, as they represent the direct pathway of lymphatic drainage from the lung lobes involved in the surgery. Their examination is integral for thorough oncological management of lung cancer.