A descriptive analysis of the demographic and pathological variations in pelvic lymph nodes: the impact of gender, age, and cancer status
Location
Suwanee, GA
Start Date
6-5-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
6-5-2025 4:00 PM
Description
Introduction
The lymphatic system is integrally involved in one’s immune function and fluid balance. Lymph nodes (LN), which are lined with immune cells, are responsible for filtering lymphatic fluid and returning volume to the veins. While LN involvement in disease is well studied, physiological variations by gender, age, BMI, and cancer status remain underexplored. Prior research suggests hormonal and anatomical factors may influence lymphatic structure. Additionally, while aging is linked to immune changes, its effect on LN morphology is uncertain.
This study examines whether gender, age, BMI, and cancer status impact LN count and surface area in the pelvic region. The null hypothesis was that there would be no gender, age, BMI, or cancer-related differences in the LNs in the inguinal region.
Methods
This retrospective study analyzed pelvic LNs from 109 cadavers (2019–2023) at PCOM-Georgia. Lymph nodes were counted and measured during dissection. This data along with demographic data (age, sex, race, and cause of death) were recorded in Excel and utilized in data analysis. Statistical methods: Surface area and count were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U, correlation analysis, and ANOVA to assess gender, age, BMI, and cancer-related differences in lymphatic structure.
Results
There was a statistically significant difference in LN count (p = 0.015) between males and females in the deep inguinal region, suggesting females have more nodes. However, other regions (superficial inguinal, iliac, lumbar, sacral) showed no significant variation in LN count or size by gender.
Age-related analysis (ANOVA) found no significant differences in lymph node count or surface area across all examined age groups (40-70, 71-90, >91), suggesting aging does not significantly impact pelvic lymph nodes. BMI showed minimal correlation with LN count (0.041) and size (-0.066).
When analyzing cancer vs. non-cancer, LN data was not normally distributed. Therefore, the Mann-Whitney U test was utilized and showed no significant cancer-related differences in surface area (p=0.260) or number of LN (p=0.1645) for both males and females.
Discussion
The deep inguinal region exhibited significant gender-based differences in LN count, aligning with prior findings on hormonal and anatomical influences. This region is a key lymphatic drainage site, making it susceptible to gender-related variations in immune response and fat distribution. However, the absence of differences in superficial LNs suggests gender does not broadly impact the lymphatic systems in the inguinal region.
Aging did not significantly affect LN size-related morphology, contradicting some studies suggesting lymphatic atrophy with age. No significant cancer-related or BMI differences were observed, but data limitations—including small sample sizes and distribution imbalances—may have impacted results.
Our findings expand on Damineni’s 2022 study, which reported gender-based LN surface area differences in superficial and deep inguinal regions. Since the study in 2022 we have expanded the dataset from 39 to 109 cadavers which may have added to the variability in the data. Non-parametric statistical analyses were run to account for the unequal variance in data.
Embargo Period
5-19-2025
A descriptive analysis of the demographic and pathological variations in pelvic lymph nodes: the impact of gender, age, and cancer status
Suwanee, GA
Introduction
The lymphatic system is integrally involved in one’s immune function and fluid balance. Lymph nodes (LN), which are lined with immune cells, are responsible for filtering lymphatic fluid and returning volume to the veins. While LN involvement in disease is well studied, physiological variations by gender, age, BMI, and cancer status remain underexplored. Prior research suggests hormonal and anatomical factors may influence lymphatic structure. Additionally, while aging is linked to immune changes, its effect on LN morphology is uncertain.
This study examines whether gender, age, BMI, and cancer status impact LN count and surface area in the pelvic region. The null hypothesis was that there would be no gender, age, BMI, or cancer-related differences in the LNs in the inguinal region.
Methods
This retrospective study analyzed pelvic LNs from 109 cadavers (2019–2023) at PCOM-Georgia. Lymph nodes were counted and measured during dissection. This data along with demographic data (age, sex, race, and cause of death) were recorded in Excel and utilized in data analysis. Statistical methods: Surface area and count were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U, correlation analysis, and ANOVA to assess gender, age, BMI, and cancer-related differences in lymphatic structure.
Results
There was a statistically significant difference in LN count (p = 0.015) between males and females in the deep inguinal region, suggesting females have more nodes. However, other regions (superficial inguinal, iliac, lumbar, sacral) showed no significant variation in LN count or size by gender.
Age-related analysis (ANOVA) found no significant differences in lymph node count or surface area across all examined age groups (40-70, 71-90, >91), suggesting aging does not significantly impact pelvic lymph nodes. BMI showed minimal correlation with LN count (0.041) and size (-0.066).
When analyzing cancer vs. non-cancer, LN data was not normally distributed. Therefore, the Mann-Whitney U test was utilized and showed no significant cancer-related differences in surface area (p=0.260) or number of LN (p=0.1645) for both males and females.
Discussion
The deep inguinal region exhibited significant gender-based differences in LN count, aligning with prior findings on hormonal and anatomical influences. This region is a key lymphatic drainage site, making it susceptible to gender-related variations in immune response and fat distribution. However, the absence of differences in superficial LNs suggests gender does not broadly impact the lymphatic systems in the inguinal region.
Aging did not significantly affect LN size-related morphology, contradicting some studies suggesting lymphatic atrophy with age. No significant cancer-related or BMI differences were observed, but data limitations—including small sample sizes and distribution imbalances—may have impacted results.
Our findings expand on Damineni’s 2022 study, which reported gender-based LN surface area differences in superficial and deep inguinal regions. Since the study in 2022 we have expanded the dataset from 39 to 109 cadavers which may have added to the variability in the data. Non-parametric statistical analyses were run to account for the unequal variance in data.