Rotter lymph nodes

Rotter lymph nodes (also known as interpectoral nodes) are lymph nodes located in the interpectoral fascia in Rotter space, between the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles. Their number varies from one to four. They are usually considered to be a separate nodal group from the level I and II axillary nodes.

Breast cancer can metastasize to these nodes and they may be positive even in the absence of disease in level I or II nodes.

Although uncommon, breast cancer can also initially recur to these nodes.

Radiographic appearances

The Rotter nodes can be seen on CT, even when not enlarged, as first described in 1987 .

History and etymology

The Rotter space and nodes are named after the German surgeon Josef Rotter (1857-1924) who described the nodes in an 1899 article describing findings in post radical mastectomy specimens . Although like many other eponyms they were first described in the literature by someone else (Stigler's law of eponymy) , in this case, three years earlier by F Grossman .