Abstract: Objective 　To probe the relation ship between lymph node metastasis rate and various kinds pathologic appearance of esophageal carcinoma. Methods 　For the 149 esophageal carcinoma cancer patients who were diagnosed, their clinical data were analyzed ret rospectively. Results 　All of lymph node detected were 765, the metastatic were 336 and the metastasis rate was 43. 9 %. The lymph node metastasis rate of various group were clavicle regional > mediastinal > arteriae gast rica sinist ra regional > esophagus side in order. The difference between the deep of tumor infilt ration, the degree of cell differentiation and lymph node metastasis rate were significance. While the difference between the lesion site, lesion length and lymph node metastasis rate were not significance. Conclusion 　The lymph node metastasis rate of lengthways of esophageal carcinoma was greater than the transversal. The esophagus side lymph node could not be regarded as sentinel node of esophageal cancer. For decreasing residual of lymph node and improving prognosis of patients, extensive cervical part, thoracic part and abdominal part lymph node scavenge should be carried out .