ObjectiveTo evaluate the metastasis feature and the dissecting value of cervicothoracic lymph node for middle esophageal squamous carcinoma. MethodsA total of 303 patients admitted to the Rugao Boai Hospital(107 patients) and the Rugao People's Hospital (196 patients) received the stapled cervical esophagogastrostomy via different thoracic approach according to the admission order number between March 2005 and February 2013. There were 290 patients with Ro resections including 149 patients by Ivor-Lewis approach (an Ivor-Lewis group) and 141 patients by Sweet approach (a Sweet group). The data of lymph nodal dissection and PTNM stage and follow-up of the two groups were analyzed. ResultsThe number of positive lymph nodes dissected from the cervicothoracic junction in the IvorLewis group was significantly greater than that in own upper abdomen (Z=3.12, P<0.05) and that in the cervicothoracic junctionin in the Sweet group (Z=3.30, P<0.05). The lymph node metastasis rate of the cervicothoracic junction in the Ivor-Lewis group was significantly higher than that in own upper abdomen(χ2=10.76, P<0.05)and that in the cervicothoracic junction in the Sweet group (χ2=7.34, P<0.05). The lymph node ratio (LNR) of the cervicothoracic junction in the Ivor-Lewis group was significantly higher than that in own upper abdomen (χ2=11.67, P<0.05) and that in the cervicothoracic junction in the Sweet group (χ2=5.99, P<0.05). The proportion of patients which PTNM were Ⅲa or Ⅲb as N＞N1 in the Ivor-Lewis group was significantly higher than that in the Sweet group(χ2=5.59, P<0.05). After surgery of 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, the rate of lymph node local recurrence and the total rate of tumor metastasis or recurrence in the Ivor-Lewis group were significantly lower than in the Sweet group (P<0.05). The survival rate in the Ivor-Lewis group was significantly greater than that in the Sweet group (P<0.05). ConclusionThe cervicothoracic junction has a higher incidence of lymphatic metastasis, which transfer intensity is greater than that of upper abdomen. The extended cervicothoracic lymph node dissection should be indeed indispensible to increase of radical resection and the accuracy of PTNM stage and to improve the long term survival for middle esophageal carcinoma.