Abstract: Objective : To study the pattern of lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal carcinoma and to analyze the factors influencing lymph node metastasis and the metastasis direction. Methods : The clinical materials of 140 patients having undergone radical resection on the carcinoma of thoracic esophagus were retrospectively analyzed. Results : The factors influencing lymph node metastasis were depth of tumor invasion and length of tumor, while style of pathology did not influence lymph node metastasis. As to metastatic direction, carcinoma of superior thoracic esophagus was mainly regional and cervical lymph node; intermediate thoracic esophageal carcinoma was regional and extended vertically;carcinoma of lower thoracic esophagus was mainly abdominal lymph node and mediastinal lymph node,with leaping-over metastasis. Conclusions : Lymph node metastasis relates to depth of tumor invasion but not the length of tumor and differentiation of cells. Every segmental esophageal carcinoma has its own opposite direction of lymph node metastasis. To widely dissect regional lymph node and enough length of esophagus, the cervical lymph node dissection will be necessary for superior and middle thoracic esophageal carcinoma; abdominal and mediastinal lymph node dissection is suitable for lower thoracic esophageal carcinoma.