Beyond station 16: A pathway-aware framework for gallbladder cancer lymphadenectomy after neoadjuvant therapy

Figure 1 Semi-anatomical map of the three lymphatic pathways of gallbladder cancer. The cholecysto-celiac pathway (green) involves stations 12, 8 and 9; the cholecysto-retropancreatic pathway (blue) involves stations 12, 13 and 17; the cholecysto-mesenteric pathway (orange) involves station 14 along the superior mesenteric vessels. All pathways converge toward station 16, particularly 16a2 and 16b1. This is an original schematic prepared by the authors based on classical lymphatic studies and Japanese Society of Biliary Surgery station nomenclature[4-6]. The route sequences are simplified and should not be interpreted as universally fixed anatomy. IVC: Inferior vena cava; SMA: Superior mesenteric artery; SMV: Superior mesenteric vein.